A fast-moving wildfire tore through Los Angeles' Pacific Palisades area on Tuesday, consuming homes and forcing 30,000 residents to evacuate as towering plumes of smoke engulfed the region. The fire scorched at least 2,921 acres (1,182 hectares) between Santa Monica and Malibu, with authorities bracing for worsening conditions due to powerful winds.
Fire officials warned that the strongest winds were expected overnight, prompting fears of further evacuations. Northern Santa Monica joined the growing list of neighborhoods ordered to flee. The fire, driven by low humidity and dry vegetation after weeks of no rain, created perilous conditions, with gusts reaching 50 to 80 mph (80 to 130 kph), according to the National Weather Service.
Devastation and Heroic Efforts
Eyewitness accounts painted a harrowing picture. Flames overtook homes, and residents fled through Topanga Canyon as fire lapped dangerously close to their vehicles. Cindy Festa, a Pacific Palisades resident, described evacuating with flames “this close to the cars,” gesturing with her fingers. Traffic gridlock on narrow roads forced some to abandon their vehicles and escape on foot.
Televised images showed firefighters battling the inferno with aerial water drops while bulldozers cleared vehicles to allow emergency access. As night fell, the hills of Topanga Canyon glowed ominously with orange flames.
Despite the destruction, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley expressed relief that no injuries were reported, though over 25,000 people in 10,000 homes remain at risk.
The Getty Villa, home to priceless art collections, narrowly escaped disaster. Preventive measures, including aggressive brush clearing, kept the museum safe, though flames did singe nearby trees.
State of Emergency Declared
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and positioned additional resources, including firetrucks and aircraft, across Southern California to address the high fire risk. "We’re preparing for the possibility of simultaneous fires," Newsom said.
President Joe Biden also pledged federal support, approving grants to reimburse California’s fire response. The escalating fire danger disrupted Biden’s travel plans, grounding Air Force One in Los Angeles. His planned visit to the Coachella Valley to inaugurate two new national monuments was postponed.
Celebrity Impact and Warnings
The Pacific Palisades, home to numerous Hollywood stars, was deeply affected. Actor James Woods evacuated, uncertain if his home survived, while actor Steve Guttenberg urged cooperation during the crisis. “It’s not about personal property. Just get your loved ones and get out,” Guttenberg said.
As winds intensified, a second fire, the Eaton Fire, ignited 30 miles (50 km) inland near Pasadena, burning 200 acres (80 hectares). Firefighters remain on high alert as the extreme fire weather is expected to persist through Thursday.
The National Weather Service called the conditions "as bad as it gets," a stark reminder of the growing wildfire risks facing Southern California.
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