Three potentially deadly fires are destroying homes as they rage through Los Angeles County, the largest of which, in Pacific Palisades, has left tens of thousands of people under evacuation orders. Follow the latest updates in this article and everything you need to know about forecasts, evacuations and more information.
Many were forced to abandon their cars in the neighbourhood between Malibu and Santa Monica, prompting firefighters to use a bulldozer to move vehicles that piled up as evacuees were stuck in traffic. As traffic slowed evacuations and flames spread across the motorway, some had considered taking refuge on the beach. At a Pasadena nursing home, workers rushed to evacuate elderly residents because of a fire just a block away.
Live updates: Three major wildfires burning in SoCal
Here’s what you need to know about Palisades Fire
- Power outages: more than 220,000 people are without power in Los Angeles County, according to poweroutage.us , a database that tracks and aggregates live power outages in the US.
- Area: The Palisades Fire has grown to nearly 3,000 acres, the Eaton Fire to 1,000 acres and the Hurst Fire to 100 acres.
- Evacuation orders: At least 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate from 10,000 homes, 15,000 structures, businesses and other buildings in Pacific Palisades. The Eaton and Hurst fires also prompted evacuations in those areas.
- Wind Speeds: Winds reached 60 to 80 mph overnight, with isolated gusts at higher elevations approaching triple digits.
Evacuation warnings as Hurst fire in Sylmar burns more than 500 acres
The Hurst Fire in Sylmar was continuing to burn more than 500 acres as of Wednesday morning. Firefighters are focusing on structure protection and public safety, according to the Angeles National Forest.
The wind-driven fire was reported at 10:10 p.m. near the 15000 block of W. Yarnell Street. It should be noted that a mandatory evacuation was issued for residents north of the 210 Freeway from Roxford to the Interstate 5/14 motorway split.
An evacuation centre has been set up at the Ritchie Valens Recreation Center located at 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Pacoima.