(KMJ/KFSN/AP) At least two people are dead and many more are injured as several fires continue to burn across Southern California amid historically dry and windy conditions.
Tens of thousands were evacuated as more than 5,000 acres burned in the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los Angeles. The Eaton Fire — which broke out miles away from the Palisades Fire, in Altadena, California — had grown to 2,227 acres with 0% containment. The Hurst Fire, meanwhile, erupted and spread northeast of San Fernando, California, burning at least 500 acres.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, the Tyler Fire started burning in Coachella, in Riverside County. It quickly grew to 15 acres.
During a news conference, officials said two people died due to the Eaton Fire.
An extreme fire risk warning was issued from Malibu to Burbank, along with Simi Valley and San Fernando.
What to know:
- Fire map: There’s three major fires: The Palisades fire, west of Los Angeles, has burned about 4.5 square miles (11.6 square kilometers). The Eaton fire, north of Pasadena has burned about 1.6 square miles (4 square kilometers). And the Hurst fire, inthe San Fernando Valley, has burned about 500 acres (202 hectares).
- Evacuation zones: Over 70,000 residents were under evacuation orders as of Wednesday morning. Many of the evacuations were in the Pacific Palisades area, but others were in parts of Santa Monica and Altadena.
- Power shutoffs: More than 300,000 power customers were without power early Wednesday, according the tracking site poweroutage.us. Another 440,000 customers could face similar shutoffs depending on weather conditions.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Battalion Chief Brent Pascua told “Good Morning America” Wednesday that the “extreme fire activity” and winds of the Palisades blaze is unlike anything he had ever seen.
“For the local residents that may be in the area that are thinking about evacuating, if it’s a thought, I would say do it,” Pascua said. “The earlier the better. Have that go bag ready, have that emergency plan ready with your family and execute it so you’re all safe.”
Extreme and “erratic” Santa Ana winds of up to 40 mph are exacerbating the situation, Pascua said. “That makes this fire fight extremely difficult,” he added.
The Getty Villa, a campus devoted to the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome, says its structures and collection remain safe from the Palisades fire.
The institution, which is located in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, provided an update on Wednesday morning. J. Paul Getty Trust President and CEO Katherine E. Fleming says the center will remain closed.
The Getty Center, a hilltop museum about 10 miles (16 kilometers) east, is out of the fire zone but will be closed until at least Sunday to help alleviate traffic in the area.
