Forecasters have issued warnings about an impending “destructive and life-threatening” storm likely to impact Southern California, increasing the risk of wildfires in an area that is still recovering from recent disasters. As of Tuesday, strong winds had already ignited multiple fires in the Los Angeles area. One significant fire in the Pacific Palisades quickly expanded from 300 acres to over 1,200 acres, spreading at an alarming rate of three football fields per minute, as reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
In response to the dangerous situation, approximately 30,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate, with more than 10,000 homes currently at risk from the ongoing fire. The Los Angeles Fire Department has advised residents to stay updated on evacuation orders.
Additionally, a fire emerged on the grounds of the Getty Villa on Tuesday afternoon, though it remains unclear if the structure itself was affected.
The National Weather Service has indicated that the storm may persist for several days, with wind gusts anticipated to reach up to 160 mph in mountainous areas. This storm is predicted to be one of the strongest Santa Ana storms experienced in over a decade, affecting Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
To mitigate wildfire risks, Southern California Edison has initiated power outages for thousands to prevent downed power lines from sparking fires. By Tuesday afternoon, approximately 7,500 customers were without electricity, and Edison is considering further shutdowns affecting an additional 400,000 residents.
Residents are expressing distress over the situation. One evacuee described the chaos as “like hell,” while others reported gridlock as people fled the area on foot due to impassable traffic. Emergency services are working to clear roads, using bulldozers to move abandoned vehicles to facilitate evacuations and firefighting efforts.
This situation is still unfolding, and updates are being provided regularly.