State of Emergency Declared in Los Angeles as Wildfire Scorches Thousands of Acres, Forces Mass Evacuations
A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles after a fast-moving wildfire rapidly escalated from 10 acres to 2,900 acres in a matter of hours, prompting mass evacuations and overwhelming local resources. According to reports from the BBC, nearly 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as firefighter’s battle the fire, which has destroyed homes and forced roadways to close. Another fire, which began earlier, tore through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, a hillside area popular with celebrities. The chaos led to an impassable traffic jam on Palisades Drive as people abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot, some with belongings in tow. A bulldozer was eventually brought in to clear the way for emergency vehicles. More than 13,000 structures are currently at risk, and several homes have been destroyed in the Pacific Palisades area. By evening, the flames had spread into Malibu, where several people have been treated for burn injuries, and one firefighter sustained serious head injuries. The Los Angeles Fire Department is working tirelessly to contain the fire, but officials warn that the situation may worsen overnight. Governor Gavin Newsom visited the affected areas and confirmed that many homes had been lost to the flames. With no substantial rainfall for months, the dry conditions are only fueling the fire, leaving officials on high alert for further damage.
The blaze, which broke out Tuesday evening near a nature preserve northeast of the city, spread so quickly that staff at a senior living facility had to urgently evacuate dozens of residents, many in wheelchairs or hospital beds, to a nearby parking lot. They waited in the open as embers rained down until buses, ambulances, and construction vans arrived to transport them to safety.
As the fire intensified, officials issued a rare plea for off-duty firefighters to assist, as high winds, some exceeding 60 mph (97 kph), grounded firefighting aircraft, further complicating efforts. Winds are expected to strengthen overnight, with gusts potentially reaching 100 mph (160 kph) in certain areas, exacerbating the already dangerous situation.
