California Department of Transportation announcements

Windstorm Sparks 300-Acre Palisades Fire; 26,000 Ordered to Evacuate in Southern California

Jan 7, 2025, 08:27 PM

A life-threatening and destructive windstorm is impacting Southern California, with the National Weather Service issuing warnings for Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The Santa Ana winds, expected to be the strongest since 2011, are bringing gusts up to 100 mph from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday. The extreme winds and drought conditions have created critical fire danger, prompting a "Particularly Dangerous Situation" red flag warning. At approximately 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, a brush fire dubbed the Palisades Fire ignited in Pacific Palisades and rapidly expanded to over 300 acres with zero percent containment. The fire is threatening approximately 13,000 structures, including the Getty Villa Museum, and has led to mandatory evacuation orders for the entire Pacific Palisades community down to the Pacific Ocean, as well as parts of Topanga and Malibu. Around 26,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate. Firefighters are battling the blaze amid severe wind conditions, but efforts are hampered by gridlocked traffic and approximately 100 abandoned vehicles at Palisades Drive and Sunset Boulevard, making roads impassable and hindering access to affected areas. Some residents have evacuated on foot. The Pacific Coast Highway is closed between Temescal Canyon Road and Las Flores Canyon Boulevard. Multiple homes and vehicles are on fire, and several structures have been destroyed. The Los Angeles Fire Department warns that winds are expected to intensify through Wednesday, with peak gusts up to 100 mph, potentially worsening the fire situation. Authorities are urging residents to stay indoors, prepare for power outages, and adhere to evacuation orders. Power outages and downed trees are expected due to the severe winds. The severe wind event and resulting wildfire come as Southern California experiences drought conditions, with many areas receiving less than an inch of rain since July. The combination of high population density, abundant dry vegetation, and powerful winds is creating critical and potentially unprecedented fire danger.