Hollywood Hills evacuated as fire spreads through LA
A mandatory evacuation order has been issued in the Hollywood Hills after a wildfire spread across Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said there was an “immediate threat to life” in the area and it was being legally closed to the public.
At least five fires are currently active in Los Angeles, with five people confirmed dead.
More than 130,000 people have already had to evacuate, and the homes of several celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal, have been destroyed.
The first fire broke out in the Pacific Palisades area near Malibu on Tuesday, followed by a blaze north of the city.
As of 20:15 local time (04:00 GMT), four fires burning in the Palisades, Pasadena, Sylmar and Hollywood Hills areas covered more than 27,000 acres (42 sq mi; 109 sq km) and were 0% contained. Got it. , according to the LAFD.
One fire in the Acton area was partially contained, while two others were completely contained.
The fire in the Hollywood Hills – a residential neighborhood overlooking the city’s historic Hollywood area – began around 18:00 local time on Wednesday.
Less than two hours later, much of Hollywood was filled with thick smoke, and the tops of the palm trees lining its streets were barely visible.
People used sweatshirts to cover their faces to help with breathing, while others – who were clearly surprised by the fire – wore only pajamas. Many people were carrying bags and suitcases and talking on their phones, planning where to go.
Several streets near the fire – including Hollywood Boulevard, home of the Hollywood Walk of Fame – were blocked with traffic. Some people were even driving on the wrong side of the road in an attempt to get out of the area.
Resident Anna Waldman told the BBC that she had gone out to walk her dog, but when she went outside she immediately smelled smoke.
She went back inside and, looking out her back windows, saw the fire and saw it moving rapidly toward the Hollywood Hills, coming within a block of her home.
She packed everything she could: food, clothes, blankets, food for her three small dogs.
“I can’t believe it,” she said, pulling down her face mask in exhaustion.
Makayla Jackson, 26, and her two-year-old son, Ramari, were evacuated from a homeless shelter that was in danger of burning down, and now they were standing on the street waiting for a ride to a high school, where they could get help. Was being offered. People.
“They told us to just get out and leave,” he said.
Firefighters battling the blaze faced water shortages and had to take water from swimming pools and ponds.
Officials said three separate million-gallon tanks were full before the fire, but the progress of the fire meant water could not reach hydrants in affected areas fast enough.
The city doesn’t typically see fires of this magnitude – the Palisades fire is already the most destructive in its history – and its systems are designed for urban use, not for fighting wildfires.