Over 30,000 people were forced to evacuate as a wildfire tore through an upscale coastal area of Los Angeles, including Hollywood celebrities, who fled by car and on foot as flames consumed homes and charred hillsides. The Pacific Palisades neighborhood, home to many film and music stars, was heavily affected, along with other areas in Los Angeles.
The fire was fueled by a wind storm and dry conditions, exacerbating the already volatile situation. Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as nearly 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) burned. Many roads were congested as people fled, with some abandoning their cars as the fire neared. Actor Steve Guttenberg urged people to prioritize their safety and evacuate quickly.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stressed the importance of following evacuation orders as the situation worsened. The National Weather Service issued a warning about the dangerous conditions affecting Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Pacific Palisades resident Cindy Festa described evacuating while the fire was dangerously close to her car. Several individuals sustained injuries, including burns, and at least one firefighter was injured, although no fatalities were reported. Actor James Woods, a resident of Pacific Palisades, was uncertain whether his home had survived the blaze.
In addition to the Pacific Palisades Fire, two other fires broke out—one in Altadena, near Pasadena, and another in Sylmar. Over 100 residents from a nursing home were evacuated, and the fires have caused widespread power outages, leaving over 210,000 homes and businesses without electricity.
Homes in Topanga Canyon, Malibu, and Santa Monica were engulfed by flames, with some residents sustaining burn injuries. Firefighters worked to contain the fires, using water from the ocean to douse the flames, while bulldozers cleared abandoned vehicles to allow emergency services to pass.
Firefighters managed to protect important landmarks like the Getty Villa, although the fire did singe some trees near the museum. The National Weather Service had warned of extreme fire conditions due to low humidity and dry vegetation.
Governor Newsom announced that the state had deployed additional resources to combat the fires, including firetrucks and aircraft. President Joe Biden, who had been scheduled to fly to the Coachella Valley, had his plans changed due to the fire, but offered federal support and grants to assist California’s firefighting efforts.
The state of emergency declared by Governor Newsom will allow local and state agencies to be reimbursed for their efforts in managing the wildfire disaster.
