Flames ignite homes and cars as 30,000 people
Los Angeles declares a state of emergency as a wildfire explodes from 10 acres to more than 1,200 acres in mere hours
Fire chief Kristin Crowley says more than 30,000 people are under evacuation orders, and 13,000 buildings under threat
Footage shows houses on fire in the Pacific Palisades area and residents abandoning their cars to flee the flames
The fire broke out about 10:30 (18:30 GMT) on Tuesday and it exploded in size, fanned by 50 mph (80km/h) wind gusts and incredibly dry conditions
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone says the Pacific Palisades is "not out of danger"
Millions of people in California are under a red flag warning, meaning there is an extreme fire danger
Palisades fire burns homes as thousands evacuate in LA
Fire burns near Getty Villa Museum - but building is not damaged, officials say
Christal Hayes
Reporting from Los AngelesGetty ImagesA fire is burning on the grounds of the Getty Villa Museum, a popular art museum in the area, but has not damaged the building, Los Angeles fire officials say.
The Palisades wildfire has caused a spot fire on the grounds of the Villa but "the Villa itself has not caught on fire," Margaret Stewart, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department tells me.
She said the building has not been impacted by the fire and crews are working throughout the region to protect homes and buildings like this.
Footage on social media shows a small fire burning near the front of the building, and a larger fire burning near the back of the massive property. An online fire map generated by Cal Fire, California's statewide fire agency, shows the blaze has nearly encircled the area.
The art museum - a re-creation of a Roman country house - contains more than 44,000 Greek and Roman antiquities. Its art dates back to the Stone Age and the Roman Empire.
'Get out of your cars now'
EPAWe've reported that Sunset Boulevard has been full of cars - many abandoned - as residents in the area try to escape the fire.
One resident, Marsha Horowitz, told the BBC's US news partner CBS that the fire department told people to get out of their cars.
"The fire was right up against the cars," she said.
BBC reporter details chaotic escape from home in Palisades
BBC reporter Lucy Sheriff evacuated her home in the Pacific Palisades as the blaze neared her neighbourhood
Let's catch up with BBC reporter Lucy Sheriff who lives in the Los Angeles community of Pacific Palisades and was forced to evacuate. Here's how she described her escape:
I was already concerned about the high wind warning, and how quickly the fire was spreading. I went outside to find out what was going on because there wasn’t a lot of information online. One Los Angeles officer told me that they had all been taken by surprise by the speed of the blaze. I could see the fire spreading across the Santa Monica mountains ridgelines – jumping from spot to spot – and surrounding the Palisades.
I’m also pregnant, and felt I needed to be more responsible than perhaps I would normally be. When I felt how quickly the wind was changing – the sky went from bright blue to orange in a matter of seconds – and ash began raining down on me, I ran back home and started making plans to evacuate.
I needed to leave. Then I saw the roads and it was complete gridlock. How would I get out? Some people were ditching their cars and running to escape the fire. I don't think I could outrun it. Home felt like the safest place to wait as I packed.
I finally decided to leave when we were told there was a mandatory evacuation order for the entirety of the Palisades. I was also getting more concerned as the fire had spread to the mountains directly in front of my house, and I had heard the winds were going to only get stronger this evening.
There’s only one road that goes in and out of the Palisades, and so I braved the gridlock - it didn’t feel like there was any other choice. It took a while to get out – there were thousands of cars trying to leave.
About 200 cars bulldozed out of the way as LA officers help with traffic
Christal Hayes
Reporting from Los Angeles
Bulldozers used to move abandoned vehicles in Palisades fire
Evacuating the fire has become a dire issue for residents - some of whom deserted their vehicles as flames moved toward roads.
KTLA reporter Gene Kang was on Sunset Boulevard and Palisades Drive, which was packed with abandoned vehicles. A bulldozer ploughed through nearly 200 vehicles, with plumes of smoke and bright red flames flaring just off the roadway.
A firefighter noted the vehicles were left without their keys and blocked an evacuation route, preventing fire crews from accessing the area. The firefighter noted at least one home was on fire nearby and others were in danger.
The City of Los Angeles noted about 140 officers with the Los Angeles Police Department were working to assist with the traffic gridlock and evacuations.
Asked about the cars blocking the road at a press conference moments ago, a police official said drivers should pull over if they are abandoning their vehicles and not leave them in the middle of the road.
Images show neighourhoods catching fire
We're seeing more and more pictures of homes in LA that have caught fire.
Officials warned in their news conference moments ago that about 10,000 homes are threatened.
And California Governor Gavin Newsom says "many structures" have been destroyed.
Here are some of the latest images:
Getty ImagesGetty ImagesEPAGetty ImagesSouth California warned of high winds for next 24 hours
The National Weather Service (NWS) is warning that high winds of 25 to 40 mph (40 km/h to 64 km/h), with gusts of 60 to 80 mph, will whip through the area until 18:00 local time on Wednesday.
That means we can expect the high winds that have fanned the flames and quickly spread the fire to continue for more than 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the Weather Channel is forecasting humidity to remain low through that time, about 17% - a dangerous combination.
The NWS has also issued "red flag" warnings for other parts of the Los Angeles region east of the Pacific Palisades, such as Pasadena, where winds are also expected to be high and humidity low.
Smoke expected to worsen local air quality
ReutersThe smoke from the wildfire is dangerous to breath, officials are warning.
Reporters out covering the blaze are wearing face mask, as well as goggles to protect their eyes.
People who are driving are advised to set their air-conditioning to recirculate internally, to prevent smoke from entering the car.
Local air quality monitors have detected a local spike in the area near the fire, but so far there is no widespread reduction in air quality in the greater Los Angeles region.
ReutersHere's what we learned from the news conference
Christal Hayes
Reporting from Los AngelesGetty ImagesOfficials here in Los Angeles have just finished a news conference on the growing blaze in the Pacific Palisades community. Here's the latest:
- The fire has grown to 1,260 acres. It ignited about 10:30 PT when winds were clocked at 25mph and has quickly spread as winds worsened to 40mph.
- The fire chief in Los Angeles says the blaze is still growing and is "extremely challenging" to fight due to the high winds and dry, brush area.
- Californnia Governor Gavin Newsom says "not a few, but many structures" have been destroyed but an exact number was not given. Officials say more than 10,000 homes and 13,000 buildings are under threat.
- No injuries have been reported, nor has anyone been reported missing. Officials note they did receive calls to addresses for people needing help getting out and they were able to rescue them.
- About 30,000 residents are under evacuation orders in the area. Those orders could remain for several days as crews fight the fire.
- More fires are still expected as officials noted the windstorm is forecast to worsen tonight.
- Officials asked that residents who do not need to be on the roads to stay home to help emergency crews to get through the typically traffic-filled streets of Los Angeles.
More fires expected, says Governor Newsom
Governor Newsom notes that embers from the fire could sail for dozens of miles in the high winds, igniting new fires far from where the current fire is taking place.
"We're anticipating other fires happening concurrently," he warns.
An incident command team on-site is using new technology and "gaming out the next few days", he says.
Their goal, he says, is to "prepare to supress subsequent fires".
The briefing has now ended but we will continue to bring the latest from the region. Stick with us.
Aerial firefighting operations to continue overnight
LA County Sheriff McDonnell says that multiple government agencies are currently "developing a plan for night time aerial operations" to continue dropping water and fire retardant on the flames.
"We are going to take advantage of the lower temperatures later at night," he says. But if the winds reach a certain speed they will be forced to cut off flights.
The water dropped from aircraft "never reaches the ground" during extreme winds, which he says unnecessarily puts flight crews at risk.
Winds are forecast to reach 100mph (160km/h) later tonight. The sheriff did not say at exactly what wind speed aerial missions will be suspended.
Fire Chief defends timing of evacuation order
Officials are being asked about the traffic jam that made it difficult for people to evacuate.
Fire Chief Crowley says that residents should have made preparations to leave before the order to evacuate went out.
The moment when the order went out "is that very important point where the public can and should heed that warning and start to evacuate".
She notes that the evacuation was "slow", but that it did ultimately succeed in getting people out of danger.
Gov Newsom: 'Many structures destroyed' in blaze
California Governor Gavin Newsom is now speaking to reporters and noting the sheer destruction caused by this blaze. He says there are "not a few, but many structures already destroyed" and the fire is still growing.
He notes the importance of listening to emergency officials when told to evacuate, especially in weather conditions like this where the winds are making the blaze harder to predict.
Watch Live: Officials give update on Palisades blaze
The fire department is holding a press conference, which you can click watch live at the top of this page to follow along.
We'll keep bringing you text updates. Stick with us.
'It could take days' before evacuation order is lifted
Officials continue to brief media even as plumes of smoke rise over the hills behind them.
"It may be some time before people are allowed to return to their homes," says City Councilwoman Traci Park.
Park, who represents the area currently on fire, says that it could be several days before the situation is under control.
"We expect the situation to continue through the evening," says Park, adding that her constituents should contact her office directly if they need assistance.
Officials said earlier in this press conference that around 30,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders.
Los Angeles declares state of emergency over fire
BreakingreutLos Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who is acting mayor due to Mayor Karen Bass being out of town, says the city is declaring a state of emergency over the blaze.
He says the city is "well prepared" but the declaration will help free up resources, personnel and funds.
The acting mayor urges people in the area to remain off the road if possible to allow emergency vehicles room to quickly get through the typically jammed roads of Los Angeles.
He says "the worst and most severe part of this wind event is yet to come."
'Please know you are not alone'
LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath is speaking now.
"We're dedicating every resource we can to urgently contain this fire," says the top politician.
She mentions that some schools are being relocated due to the fire.
"I know today is terrifying and it is painful. Please know that you are not alone," she says, as the wind whips her hair.
LA county chief says area is 'not out of danger'
The Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, whose agency is helping fight the blaze in the Pacific Palisades, says the area is "not out of danger" and things could worsen throughout the region.
He notes the forecast predicts winds getting stronger this evening. "The winds are going to get worse," he says.
'Please clear the streets', say officials
LA County Sheriff Jim McDonnell says that the fire "will get worse throughout the night".
He asks the community to move their cars from the street, to allow rescue crews to reach the fire.
"Please do everything you can to open up these streets," he says.
Fire is growing and posing extreme challenge to combat - LA fire chief
LA's fire chief Kristin Crowley says the blaze has grown to more than 1,260 acres and is growing based on aerial reconnaissance.
It had previously been reported as 12,000 acres but is now clarified by officials as 1,262 acres.
She says the fire is being fuelled by the fierce winds and the dry, brush area. She says it has been "extremely challenging for our personnel that are assigned".
There are 250 firefighters at the scene, with helicopters, fire engines and more.
No injuries so far, says fire chief
Over 30,000 people are under evacuation orders, she says.
Over 10,000 houses as well as 13,000 buildings are under threat.
No injuries have yet been reported.
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