The Pacific Palisades fire, which had reached nearly 3,000 acres by 6:30 p.m. local time, was first reported before 11 a.m., leading to mass evacuations extending into Malibu. From the mountains to the coast, thick smoke and flames billowed as firefighting crews contended with the wind-driven inferno. By Tuesday evening, the fire had crossed the Pacific Coast Highway, nearing Will Rogers Beach State Park.
Governor Gavin Newsom warned of the extreme fire risk posed by the powerful windstorm, emphasizing the rapid escalation of the Pacific Palisades fire. A second brush fire in Altadena, northeast of Pacific Palisades, also erupted, fueled by strong winds and rapidly growing to endanger several areas under mandatory evacuation orders.
President Joe Biden, present in Los Angeles, received updates on the spreading fires, urging residents to stay alert and follow evacuation directives. Approximately 30,000 residents were under evacuation orders, with over 10,000 homes threatened by the Palisades fire.
In Santa Monica, a mandatory evacuation was issued for a northern section of the city, citing an immediate threat to life. Despite the destruction, no injuries were reported by late Tuesday.
Incidents of devastation included Pacific Palisades Charter High School and Theatre Palisades catching fire, with flames nearing the Getty Villa in Malibu. Museum officials reassured the safety of the art collection due to prior fire prevention efforts.
With worsening wind conditions expected, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone cautioned that the danger was not yet over, as the National Weather Service predicted escalating winds.
Smoke from a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades is seen rising over the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica, California on January 7, 2025. The strongest winds were expected to occur between 10 p.m. on Tuesday and 5 a.m. on Wednesday. Residents in the area were advised to have an evacuation plan in place for their safety.
The dangerous winds were forecasted to persist until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, affecting various counties in California with wind gusts reaching up to 100 mph. A resident is pictured trying to protect his property from the flames of the wind-driven Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades.
Earlier, fire officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for thousands of residents in the affected area. Some roads, including the 10 Freeway and Pacific Coast Highway, were closed to non-essential traffic. More than 17,000 customers were without power across Los Angeles County.
A separate brush fire threatened the West Hollywood area, with crews working to contain the blaze. The cause of both fires was under investigation by Cal Fire. A “life-threatening” windstorm was expected to increase fire danger in Southern California, affecting Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Much of Southern California remains under red flag alerts due to strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and dry fuels. The region is also facing drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
A moderate drought is currently in effect from Los Angeles to San Diego, where very dry vegetation poses a potential wildfire risk. Last week, a second blaze broke out in Los Angeles, prompting evacuations. The situation is being closely monitored for further developments. The details of the ongoing drought and wildfire threats can be found in the original article on abcnews.go.com.
