California wildfire map: Track the Palisades Fire as evacuations ordered in Los Angeles
A large bush fire threatens more than 25,000 homes and structures in Los Angeles as Southern California grapples with a brutal wind storm Tuesday.
The Palisades Fire has burned nearly 3,000 acres acres since it was reported at around 10:30 a.m. local time. The cause is under investigation, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Evacuation warnings went into effect in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood with multiple homes under immediate threat, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the area between Piedra Morada Drive and Pacific Coast Highway due to life-threatening conditions.
Cal Fire has issued a red flag warning for the region, which is at risk of extreme wildfires fueled by daunting Santa Ana winds, low humidity and critically dry fuels. Los Angeles city and county firefighting units and resources have been deployed to the scene.
The most intense winds from the storm are set to peak between 10 p.m. Tuesday night through 5 a.m. Wednesday, according to LA Fire Department Chief Kristin M. Crowley. He warned that more than 10,000 structures and over 13,000 households are threatened as officials emphasize the need to evacuate.
"By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods," Gov. Gavin Newsom said the press conference. "I saw firsthand the impact of these swirling winds and the embers and the number of structures that are destroyed. Not a few, many structures already destroyed."
The department is urging Southern Californians to be prepared to evacuate if necessary and report any suspicious activity to help prevent arson. First responders are urging people to avoid driving
Evacuation orders for Palisades Fire
Evacuation orders were issued for areas including the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. You can find an interactive map of evacuation orders and warnings related to the Palisades Fire on the Cal Fire website. The below map was current, as of 2:30 p.m. PT.
Life-threatening windstorm forecast through Wednesday
The National Weather Service issued a warning Monday for a "life-threatening, destructive (and) widespread windstorm" in California through Wednesday.
"A life-threatening, destructive, widespread windstorm is expected Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning," NWS wrote. "Widespread damaging winds are expected across most of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Areas not typically windy will be impacted."
Wind gusts are reaching up to 80 mph posing an "extreme" and widespread wildfire risk conditions for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including areas that are still-recovering from last month's Franklin Fire that burned more than 3,000 acres in Malibu.
Areas "of greatest concern and most destructive winds," included:
Pasadena
Burbank
San Fernando
Hollywood
Beverly Hills
Simi Valley
Sylmar
Porter Ranch
Altadena
La Crescenta
Malibu
Santa Gabriel / Santa Susana / Santa Monica Mountains & Foothills
San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys
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