Griffith Park, home to iconic landmarks such as the Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles Zoo, Autry Museum of the American West, and Griffith Observatory, has been closed as a safety measure. Jeff Zarrinnam, chair of the Hollywood Sign Trust, has confirmed this precautionary step.
The Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills is situated southeast of Mount Lee and has spread closer to Runyon Canyon Park, located approximately 7.5 miles from the Hollywood Sign. For the latest updates and in-depth analysis on wildfires, you can sign up for USA TODAY’s Climate Point newsletter.
Recent wildfires have ravaged tens of thousands of acres in the Los Angeles area. The Palisades Fire ignited around 10:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday, scorching over 17,000 acres of land between Santa Monica and Malibu. Concurrently, the Hurst Fire broke out in the San Fernando Valley northwest of downtown Los Angeles, burning approximately 850 acres. Additionally, the Eaton Fire started near Pasadena around 6:30 p.m. local time, consuming more than 10,600 acres.
As of Thursday morning, the death toll stood at five individuals. The containment status of the Palisades and Eaton Fires was reported as 0%, while the Hurst Fire was 10% contained, according to information from Cal Fire.
Apart from the Sunset Fire, another blaze named the Lidia Fire erupted Wednesday night in Acton. By Thursday morning, it had charred over 340 acres and achieved 40% containment, as confirmed by Cal Fire.
Authorities are actively investigating the origins of these devastating wildfires. Prior to the emergence of the fires, the National Weather Service had issued its highest alert level for extreme fire conditions in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The agency cautioned about the possibility of wind gusts reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, which coupled with low humidity and dry vegetation, posed a significant threat.
Greta Cross, a distinguished national trending reporter at USA TODAY, can be followed on X and Instagram @gretalcross. For story ideas or inquiries, she can be reached via email at gcross@usatoday.com.
This informational piece was originally published on USA TODAY: Is the Hollywood Sign safe from Los Angeles fires? Get the essential details to stay informed.
