Wildfire Updates: Pacific Palisades Wildfire Rages as Tens of Thousands Forced to Evacuate
State of Emergency
Governor Newsom has declared a state of emergency as the National Weather Service warns of high winds and “extreme fire weather” posing a threat to much of Southern California until Thursday. “This is a highly dangerous windstorm creating extreme fire risk – and we’re not out of the woods,” Newsom stated. “We’re already witnessing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades, which escalated rapidly in a matter of minutes.” The state has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant, approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Thousands of Structures Threatened
As of Tuesday, Chief Kristin M. Crowley of the LA Fire Department reported that 10,000 structures and over 13,000 households are currently threatened. “By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods,” emphasized Newsom during a press conference. “I witnessed firsthand the impact of these swirling winds and embers, and the significant number of structures already destroyed.”
Palisades Fire Evacuation
Evacuation orders have been issued for the Palisades area. An interactive map detailing evacuation orders and warnings related to the Palisades Fire can be found on the Cal Fire website. The LA Fire Department is urging Southern Californians to be prepared to evacuate if necessary and report any suspicious activity to prevent arson.
Evacuation Shelters
Residents evacuating their homes due to the fire can seek shelter at the following locations, according to Cal Fire:
– Westwood Recreation Center: 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90025
– El Camino Real Charter High School: 5440 Valley Circle Blvd., Woodland Hills, California, 91367
Road Closures
First responders advise the public to avoid driving at this time. However, the following roads are closed, according to Cal Fire:
– Southbound Pacific Coast Highway at Las Flores Canyon Rd
– Southbound Pacific Coast Highway at Topanga Canyon Boulevard
– Coastline Drive and Southbound Pacific Coast Highway
The situation remains dynamic, and the number of areas under evacuation orders in the Palisades area has increased as of Wednesday morning.
For the latest updates and developments on the Palisades Fire, stay connected with journalist Julia on LinkedIn, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz. You can also reach out to her via email at jgomez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Palisades Fire Engulfs Thousands of Acres: View Map
