(NEXSTAR) – Residents are being told to “evacuate now” as wildfires spread rapidly in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, according to Nexstar. KTLA.
The Palisades Fire was first reported around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1100 block of North Piedra Morada Drive. As of midday, the explosion had covered more than 200 acres, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Eric Scott said.
“The fire is moving west near the Pacific Palisades Highlands area, and all of Rustic Canyon to the east and Topanga Shin to the west are under evacuation warnings,” Scott told KTLA. spoke.
CalFire said the entire region was ordered to evacuate to the Pacific Ocean.
The fire occurred on a day when fire officials were bracing for wind gusts of up to 160 mph. National Weather Service explanation as “life-threatening,” “extreme,” and “destructive.”
More than 100 firefighters and pre-positioned attack teams were battling the blaze, according to David Ortiz with the LAFD.
“This is the worst possible scenario for a gunfight,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz described the fire as a torch and urged residents to obey orders if they are asked to leave. “Please stay out of the way of this fire,” Ortiz said.
It was not immediately clear whether any homes were destroyed as of 12:30 p.m., but Alert California video showed large plumes of smoke rising over the Santa Monica Mountains.
KTLA spoke with actor Steve Guttenberg, who said he was helping move cars along Palisades Drive so fire trucks could pass. Mr Gatten appealed to car owners to leave their keys in their cars so they can be moved.
“There are families there, there are pets there, there are people out there who really need help,” Guttenberg said. “It's really important that people help each other… Don't worry about your property, just get out. I have friends who can't get out right now. They've got evacuation orders. .”
The Pacific Palisades is about 10 miles from Malibu, where the Franklin Fire broke out under similar windy conditions in December, burning more than 4,000 acres and destroying several homes.
