Firefighters battle 200-acre Pacific Palisades brush fire as high winds slam Southern California
Firefighters are battling a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades area that quickly spread to 200 acres on Tuesday and triggered mandatory evacuations as forecasters warned of “extreme” wildfire risks.
As the fire spread within an hour, the fire department issued a mandatory evacuation order An alert was issued for homes in the area around noon and some evacuation warnings were issued. The fire was first reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department at 10:30 a.m. near 1190 North Piedra Morada Dr. and was estimated at the time to be 20 acres.
An hour later, around 11:30 a.m., the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection estimated the fire was 200 acres in size.
Krishan Chaudry, a resident of a coastal Los Angeles community, said he saw flames suddenly appear in his backyard. In video from UC San Diego, thick billows of black smoke can be seen rising from the hillside. AlertCalifornia live webcam system, while other footage shows fire near the house.
“It was just a spur of the moment,” Choudry said. “We were just looking at the smoke, and then all of a sudden, we saw fire everywhere,” Choudry said.
Los Angeles city officials said those not in the Pacific Palisades area Shelter in place Coastal communities were evacuated at the same time.
Many areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including areas where fires were reported, are under red flag warnings for “particularly hazardous conditions” this week. This is a relatively rare warning issued by the National Weather Service during more extreme conditions and is the same warning it has issued before wildfire Late last year, nearly 20,000 acres were destroyed.
Cal Fire has been preparing additional resources this week as particularly strong Santa Ana winds that could fuel and spread powerful wildfires batter the region. Wind gusts could reach around 60 to 70 mph in many areas, with gusts as high as 100 mph in a few areas, according to forecasters.
“This could be a life-threatening, destructive and widespread storm,” The National Weather Service said TuesdayIt added that a “particularly hazardous conditions” warning will be in effect from noon Tuesday to 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Los Angeles and Ventura areas, including Malibu.
In December, coastal communities faced franklin fire The fire burned more than 4,000 acres and destroyed more than two dozen structures, including some homes.
Please check back for updates on this developing story.
