A fire was burning out of control Tuesday in the Pacific Palisades, threatening numerous homes and forcing thousands to evacuate, amid a potentially “
life-threatening and destructive” windstorm.
Most of the Pacific Palisades was under an evacuation order, as residents and firefighters fought traffic jams in some areas trying to escape the flames. The blaze broke out around 10:30 a.m. near Piedra Morada Drive and was being pushed by intense wind gusts that officials had warned could quickly spread a wildfire.
“It’s bad. It’s like an inferno,” said Lori Libonati, who lives in the Pacific Palisades and saw the fire start to burn Tuesday morning before evacuating. “We just saw the flames.”
Massive smoke plumes filled the sky around the
Palisades fire as families evacuated not far from hillsides glowing with
orange. The blaze had already jumped across Palisades Drive and was burning on both sides of the road, according to updates from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The city of Los Angeles warned residents near the fire to “get set for a potential wildfire evacuation by gathering supplies and loved ones.”
“It looks grim,” Magnolia Shin said around noon Tuesday, about an hour after she left her house on Piedra Morada Drive. Shin said that she could feel the heat from the flames before she left, which were within 50 yards of her home. She didn’t have time to try to save anything from her home before evacuating.
“I couldn’t even get my rabbit,” she said. “I just left. I just took my purse and drove away.”
The upscale Palisades community is known for many celebrity residents. Current Honorary Mayor of the Pacific Palisades, Eugene Levy, was evacuating along with other residents of the neighborhood Tuesday.
“The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon,” Levy told The Times as he was stuck in traffic, evacuating. “I couldn’t see any flames but the smoke was very dark.”
Residents fleeing down Sunset Boulevard gathered along the Pacific Coast Highway, many calling family members still trapped in traffic; others cried as they finally reunited.
Cavalry Christian School students and teachers posted in the Sunset Beach parking lot, waiting to connect students with their families. But the smoke quickly moved toward the shore. By noon, ash was dropping from the sky along the coastline.
“I figured it was safer at the beach, but now I’m not so sure,” said Daryl Goldsmith. “The wind is virulent and I just hope things don’t burn down. … The poor fire department couldn’t get up there.”
Goldsmith was at her Palisades home with friends when she spotted the fire. It quickly exploded, she said.
As she rushed to evacuate, her husband stayed behind to help a disabled neighbor escape. Firefighters began directing traffic, but Goldsmith decided to ditch her car in the grass and decided to walk down to the shore.
As she waited at Sunset Beach, her husband was still stuck up the hill.
The region remains under severe red flag warnings as dry, unpredictable and strong offshore winds pick up across the region. The National Weather Service said strong north winds are expected around the fire through at least Wednesday, with speeds peaking Tuesday night from 35 to 60 mph.
In some parts of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, gusts up to 100 mph are possible as the dangerous windstorm drags on. Wind speeds had already hit 60 to 70 mph in some areas of the eastern Santa Monica mountains, not far from the fire, according to the National Weather Service.
In West Hollywood, firefighters were battling another blaze, which sparked just after 10 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. A a structure fire spread to brush near West Sunset Boulevard, estimated to be about a quarter-acre in size.
Amid a
parched landscape, the major wind event was again creating
particularly dangerous fire weather — similar to the conditions that were in place when both the November
Mountain fire in Ventura County and the
Franklin fire in December in Malibu erupted.
Here’s what you need to know:
What are the main concerns?
This is not a typical Santa Ana wind event, though it is indeed bringing dry, offshore winds to the area, said Ryan Kittell, a National Weather Service meteorologist. The widespread wind event is expected to cause disruptions from Santa Barbara County south through San Diego County beginning Tuesday and continuing at least to Friday.
- Wind speeds: The National Weather Service has issued wind warnings and alerts across much of Southern California. In L.A. and Ventura counties, sustained winds of 35 to 50 mph are expected, while gusts of 50 to 80 mph are possible. In some windy corridors, winds up to 100 mph are possible.
- Critical fire weather: Red flag warnings have been issued across the region, citing “increased risk for large fires with very rapid fire spread, extreme fire behavior and long-range spotting.” Some areas fall under the most elevated warning of a particularly dangerous situation.
- Damage from winds: The strong winds are expected to down trees, cause power outages and localized damage to structures, and potentially knock over big rigs, trailers and motor homes, the National Weather Service warned.
- “Mountain wave” winds: Forecasters are warning of a wind phenomenon that can cause short-lived but extremely destructive winds, particularly in the San Gabriel foothills and valleys. The mountain wave wind activity occurs when gusts rapidly drop down mountain slopes, then gain strength upon hitting the flat landscape, causing “brief bursts of very strong, dangerous winds,” said Rich Thompson, a National Weather Service meteorologist. This could be the strongest such wind event since the 2011 storm that caused serious damage in Pasadena, Altadena and other San Gabriel Valley neighborhoods, including knocking out power for days for more than 400,000 people.
- Dangerous sea conditions: Rough waters and high winds at sea and over harbors are a concern off the L.A. and Orange county coasts, including on Catalina Island.
Where is most at risk?
Forecasters say it’s hard to pick one region most at risk for this windstorm because of its breadth, expected duration and potential strength.
- Most of L.A. and Ventura counties: “Given the widespread nature of the winds we’re expecting, it’s a very high level of concern everywhere,” Thompson said. “Anywhere in L.A. County outside of the Antelope Valley — from the mountains to the coast ... be ready to take action if a fire does break out during this event.”
- A “particularly dangerous situation: red flag warning — the highest such alert — has been issued for Tuesday and Wednesday for the San Gabriel mountains, foothills and valleys; the San Fernando Valley and foothills; Hollywood and Beverly Hills; coastal areas along the Sepulveda Pass; the Santa Monica Mountains and into Malibu; and the Simi Valley.
- Mountain wave winds, possibly reaching 80 to 100 mph, are expected to be the strongest across the 118 and 210 highway corridors, including the San Gabriel and San Fernando foothills, the Simi Valley and the eastern Ventura County valleys. Of particular concern are Sylmar, Porter Ranch and San Fernando foothill communities to the east, such as La Crescenta, Altadena, Monrovia, Azusa and Glendora, according to the weather service.
- Orange County: Red flag warnings are in effect across the county Tuesday through Thursday, with elevated concern for the Santa Ana Mountains.
- San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego counties: The Inland Empire, and the counties’ mountains and valleys, are under red flag warnings Tuesday through Thursday.
- San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties: Wind gusts up to 40 and 50 mph are expected, with the most dangerous conditions in the mountains and foothills; portions of Santa Barbara County are also under a red flag warning Tuesday and Wednesday.
When is it happening?
Winds will begin early Tuesday and probably last through Friday across the region.
- Tuesday and Wednesday: Peak winds across Southern California are forecast, with particularly dangerous situation red flag warnings in effect.
- Noon Tuesday through noon Wednesday: The worst of the mountain wave winds are possible.
- Thursday into Friday: A fire weather watch is expected to remain in effect for much of L.A. and Ventura counties as winds linger. On Friday, winds are expected to begin to weaken.
How to prepare
The National Weather Service urges residents to act as soon as possible.
- Secure any loose objects.
- Adjust travel plans on Tuesday or Wednesday.
- Charge necessary electronics.
- Fill up generators.
- Park cars away from trees.
- When winds start, stay away from trees and windows.
Power shutoffs, other concerns
- Electricity providers have started initiating planned power shutoffs to limit further fire starts. About 4,000 customers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties have seen shutoffs, according to Southern California Edison.
- The utility has alerted more than 400,000 customers, primarily across Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, that they may see shutoffs Tuesday and Wednesday “due to heightened wildfire risk.” San Diego Gas & Electric is considering cutting off power to more than 60,000 customers beginning Tuesday, mostly for those located across inland San Diego County.
- Malibu public schools were canceled Tuesday due to “dangerous weather conditions,” the district said.
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