Fast-Moving Wildfires Force Thousands to Evacuate in Los Angeles

On Tuesday, a fast-moving brush fire erupted in Los Angeles, threatening homes and prompting thousands of residents to evacuate as city and state officials declared a state of emergency. Hours later, a second wildfire broke out, intensifying the crisis as strong winds swept across Southern California into the night.

The Pacific Palisades fire, which expanded to nearly 3,000 acres by 6:30 p.m. local time, was first reported around 11 a.m. It quickly forced evacuations in the surrounding areas, including Malibu. Smoke and flames stretched from the mountains to the coast as fire crews fought to contain the wind-driven blaze. By evening, the fire had crossed the Pacific Coast Highway, reaching dangerously close to Will Rogers Beach State Park.

“This is a highly dangerous windstorm that’s creating extreme fire risk—and we’re not out of the woods,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “The destructive impacts of the Pacific Palisades fire, which grew rapidly in minutes, are already evident.”

Second Blaze Ignites in Altadena

Later that evening, a second brush fire broke out in Altadena, northeast of Pacific Palisades. Known as the Eaton fire, it quickly grew from 10 acres to 400 acres in less than two hours, driven by strong winds. Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for several areas.

Biden Receives Briefings, Urges Vigilance

President Joe Biden, who was in Los Angeles, was briefed twice on the fires. The White House issued a statement urging residents to remain vigilant and to follow evacuation orders from local authorities.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, approximately 30,000 residents were under evacuation orders, with over 10,000 homes at risk from the Palisades fire. In Santa Monica, officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for areas north of San Vicente Boulevard, citing an "immediate threat to life."

Scenes of Devastation

The flames caused significant damage, with Pacific Palisades Charter High School and the nearby Theatre Palisades both reported as having caught fire, according to KABC.

The fire also neared the Getty Villa, a museum in Malibu renowned for its collection of ancient Greek and Roman art. However, museum officials assured the public that the collection and staff were safe, thanks to extensive fire mitigation efforts and state-of-the-art building protections.

Wind Conditions Pose Continued Danger

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone warned that wind conditions were expected to worsen overnight, creating additional fire risks. The strongest winds, with gusts of up to 100 mph, were forecast between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday, with dangerous conditions expected to persist through Wednesday evening across multiple counties.

Residents were urged to have evacuation plans ready, as red flag warnings for fire danger remain in effect through Thursday due to strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and critically dry vegetation.

Gridlock, Power Outages, and Closures

As the fire spread Tuesday afternoon, traffic gridlock clogged major streets in Pacific Palisades, including Palisades Drive and Sunset Boulevard. Abandoned vehicles were later towed to clear access for emergency crews.

Sections of the 10 Freeway and Pacific Coast Highway were closed to non-essential traffic, while more than 17,000 customers across Los Angeles County experienced power outages, according to PowerOutage.US.

Fire Cause Under Investigation

The causes of both the Pacific Palisades and Altadena fires are under investigation, according to Cal Fire. The fires come as Southern California faces a return to moderate drought conditions, with critically dry vegetation and strong winds creating an ideal environment for wildfires to spark and spread rapidly.

Officials warn that areas not typically affected by winds may still face dangerous conditions in the coming days.