Los Angeles Area Faces Three Major Wildfires
Three significant wildfires are burning in California's Los Angeles County, fanned by wind gusts that reached 100 mph. Record low humidity levels are also exacerbating fire conditions, and more than 80,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate at-risk areas.
The Palisades fire started at around 10:30 a.m. local time on 7 January and has already burned nearly 3,000 acres of land. The Eaton fire broke out Tuesday night and has raced through more than 2,000 acres. The Hurst fire was reported Tuesday night as well, leading to evacuation orders near several key highway intersections. It burned nearly 500 acres in just four hours.
As of 7:00 a.m. local time, CAL FIRE—part of California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection—said the three fires were 0 percent contained.
Roads used for evacuations quickly became gridlocked, according to the BBC. News videos showed evacuees walking down the famous Sunset Boulevard after being told by officers to abandon their cars and walk to safety, the LAist reported. Abandoned cars were bulldozed to make room for emergency vehicles.
The City of Los Angeles declared a state of emergency to help amplify response efforts.
“Angelenos should be advised that the windstorm is expected to worsen tonight through tomorrow morning and to heed warnings, stay vigilant and stay safe,” according to a press release.
Firefighters are also dealing with infrastructure problems, including diminished or unreliable water supply in fire hydrants, the Los Angeles Times reported. The extreme winds forced crews to temporarily ground firefighting aircraft.
Recent weather patterns are making the fire danger worse. Southern California had a particularly hot summer, nearly no precipitation during the typical wet season, and has plenty of dry brush to fuel fires, according to an LA Times interview with Alex Hall, director of the UCLA Center for Climate Science.
California Governor Gavin Newsom noted in a press conference and reiterated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that fire danger in California is no longer bound to a specific fire season—it’s a year-round threat.
Los Angeles area institutions and landmarks are at risk from the fires—multiple famous restaurants have burned already. Some trees and vegetation on the grounds of the Getty Villa caught fire on 7 January, but so far the staff, building, and its art remain safe. The Getty museum works year-round to clear brush and boost fire mitigation preparedness. Getty officials said that they have sealed off the art galleries to protect artwork from smoke.
Read more about fire prevention at the Getty in Security Management’s 2021 profile, “A Portrait of Fire Prevention.”
