LOS ANGELES– Two fires have ignited in the Los Angeles area Tuesday, including one dubbed the Palisades fire, that exploded to more than 200 acres and has forced evacuations, as the area expects to see some of the worst winds in over a decade.
Residents in Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood almost 20 miles west of downtown Los Angeles, have been ordered to evacuate as a fast-moving fire has grown to more than 200 acres as of noon Tuesday. Areas of Malibu east of Las Flores were also included in the evacuation order.
On Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Gavin Newsom was on the ground while being briefed by Cal Fire about the Palisades Fire, according to a post on X.
“Californians in the affected areas should stay alert and follow evacuation orders from local authorities http://Ready.CA.Gov,” Newsom also said in the post.
Firefighters are also battling another blaze in West Hollywood, which also started on Tuesday morning, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The cause of both fires is currently under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
Southern California is forecast to experience a “destructive and potentially life-threatening windstorm” until noon Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, with wind gusts in Los Angeles and Ventura counties of 50 to 80 miles per hour and isolated gusts of 80 to 100 miles per hour in the mountains and foothills. Residents are advised to stay indoors, away from windows and expect power outages.
LAFD Captain Erik Scott warned that these winds will have the potential to create some “explosive wildfire behavior.”
Los Angeles Mayor Bass, in a post on X, urged Angelenos to sign up for @NotifyLA alerts and follow the LAFD for updated information.
“In preparation for high winds, LAFD pre-deployed strike teams in and near areas prone to wildfire. Firefighters are now actively and aggressively responding to the #PalisadesFire with support from regional partners,” Bass also said in the post. “Angelenos in the area are urged to heed evacuation warnings and follow direction from public safety officials. Due to increasing winds, this is a very dangerous situation.”
Malibu public schools were canceled Tuesday due to “dangerous weather conditions.”
The Pacific Coast Highway is closed from the 10 Freeway to Topanga Canyon, only allowing limited access to ease the movement of evacuees and emergency vehicles, officials said. They are also asking residents to avoid the area west of Interstate 405 between Sunset Boulevard and the 101 Freeway to allow emergency responders to work.
In an interview with KTLA, actor Steve Guttenberg urged residents near the Pacific Palisades fire to leave keys in cars left behind so others can move them out of the way and clear paths for firetrucks.
Guttenberg, a Pacific Palisades resident, said he had friends in the evacuation area who couldn’t get out because of the traffic and stranded cars.
“It’s really important for people to band together. Don’t worry about your personal property. Just get out,” Guttenberg added.
Fire officials say these “significant winds” will potentially create some “explosive wildfire behavior” and warned residents in areas prone to wildfires to be prepared to evacuate.
“Predetermine what’s important to you and your family and what you’re going to take in the event that somebody knocks on your door and says you need to leave,” Scott told KCAL News on Tuesday.
Residents evacuating can go to a shelter at the Westwood Recreation Center at 1350 S. Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles, which also accepts small animals. An emergency shelter for large animals has opened at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center at 480 Riverside Drive in Burbank.
