17 hours ago
The Pacific Palisades fire was first reported at 10:30 a.m on Tuesday near the 1100 block of North Piedra Morada Drive. The fire was fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and expected to continue expanding.
Smoke from a wildfire is seen from the Venice Beach section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo)
UPDATED: Jan 8, 2025 07:57 IST
A wildfire whipped up by extreme winds swept through a Los Angeles hillside dotted with celebrity residences Tuesday, burning homes and forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.
More than 30,000 residents in the Los Angeles area are under a mandatory evacuation order to a fast-moving, wildfire in Pacific Palisades.
The fire was first reported around 10:30 am on Tuesday in the 1100 block of North Piedra Morada Drive. By 3:30 pm, the fire had exploded to more than 1,200 acres and was expected to keep growing amid strong Santa Ana winds.
Here’s everything you need to know about the wildfire.
Structures Damaged, but Full Extent Unknown
California Governor Gavin Newsom reported numerous structures destroyed, though officials have not confirmed the total number. Over 13,000 structures remain under threat.
Extreme Winds Pose Ongoing Danger
Winds expected to reach 100 mph in some areas have heightened fire risks. The Weather Service warned of "life-threatening" conditions, with the worst winds forecast overnight.
Utility Shutoffs Aim to Prevent More Fires
15,000 Southern California utility customers had their power shut off to reduce fire risks, with a potential half-million more facing preemptive outages.
Road Closures and Disruptions
Key routes, including the Pacific Coast Highway and Interstate 10, were partially closed to aid evacuations. Residents reported abandoning cars and fleeing on foot amid worsening conditions.
Celebrity and Community Response
Local residents, including celebrities like James Woods and Steve Guttenberg, shared evacuation experiences. Some helped move vehicles to clear paths for emergency services.
Minimal Rainfall Exacerbates Fire Risk
Southern California has seen little rainfall since May, contributing to dry vegetation and elevated fire risks during the Santa Ana wind season.
Federal Assistance and Firefighting Efforts
President Biden approved federal grants to aid firefighting costs. Helicopters and ground crews are working to contain the blaze and protect key locations like the Getty Villa.
Impact on Schools and Events
The Los Angeles Unified School District relocated students from three affected campuses, while film studios canceled movie premieres due to fire and wind conditions.
(With inputs from AP)
Published By:
indiatodayglobal
Published On:
Jan 8, 2025
