New evacuations were underway Saturday as the 22,660-acre Palisades Fire made a dramatic shift overnight, moving northeast to threaten the Brentwood area and the western San Fernando Valley.
The massive mandatory evacuation zone stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the west, the San Diego (405) Freeway to the east, San Vicente Boulevard to the south and the Encino Reservoir to the north.
Evacuation warnings were issued for the following two areas: Sunset Boulevard to the south, Mullholland Drive to the north, Bellagio Road/Roscomare Road to the east and the 405 Freeway to the west; and Mulholland/Sepulveda Boulevard to the south, the 405 Freeway to the east, Ventura Boulevard to the north and Louise Avenue to the west.
Authorities closed several off-ramps to the 405 Freeway to limit traffic in the West Los Angeles area Saturday morning, including Getty Center Drive, Skirball Center Drive, Sunset, Wilshire, Santa Monica and Olympic boulevards.
Video from Saturday morning showed firefighters battling steep terrain in an attempt to protect homes from encroaching flames in Mandeville Canyon northwest of the Getty Center and west of the 405 Freeway, with some homes overcome by fire.
The fire was 11% contained as of Saturday morning after burning 22,660 acres. At least 5,316 structures have been destroyed, a number that includes automobiles, and at least 426 homes have been destroyed. Authorities said approximately 105,000 people are currently evacuated.
Five deaths have been confirmed from the Palisades Fire.
Evacuation centers were set up at the following locations:
— Westwood Recreation Center, 1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd.;
— Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center, 14201 Huston St., Sherman Oaks;
— Lanark Recreation Center, 21816 Lanark St., Canoga Park;
— Calvary Community Church, 5495 Via Rocas, Westlake Village;
— Ritchie Valens Recreation Center, 10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd.;
— Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St.;
— Stoner Recreation Center, 1835 Stoner Ave.;
— Pan Pacific Recreation Center, 7600 Beverly Blvd.
Small animals were being taken at the following locations:
— El Camino High School, 5440 Valley Circle Blvd, Woodland Hills;
— Agoura Animal Care Center, 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills;
— Baldwin Park Animal Care Center, 4275 Elton St., Baldwin Park;
— Carson Animal Care Center, 216 W. Victoria St., Gardena;
— Castaic Animal Care Center, 31044 Charlie Canyon;
— Downey Animal Care Center, 11258 Garfield Ave.;
— Lancaster Animal Care Center, 5210 W Ave I;
— Palmdale Animal Care Center, 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale.
Large animals were being taken at the following locations:
— Pomona Fairplex, 101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona;
— Industry Hills Expo, 16200 Temple Ave., City of Industry;
— LA Equestrian, 480 Riverside Drive Burbank;
— Castaic Animal Care Center, 31044 Charlie Canyon;
— Pico Rivera Sports Arena, 11003 Sports Arena Drive.
The American Red Cross Sheltering Site was also assisting with a mobile animal shelter for small animals only.
A mandatory curfew was in effect nightly from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in the mandatory evacuation areas, with only firefighters, law enforcement and utility workers allowed in those zones. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday announced that he has doubled the number of California National Guard personnel activated to help maintain order in the fire areas to 1,680 members.
Authorities have pledged that anyone caught looting or committing other crimes in the fire areas will be fully prosecuted.
Some 3,712 personnel were assigned to battle the Palisades Fire.
The fire erupted around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Piedra Morada and Monte Hermoso drives as the area was under a red flag warning for critical fire danger due to a historic wind event that saw gusts of 80 mph. It continued to grow exponentially Tuesday and Wednesday thanks to heavy fuel loads and powerful Santa Ana winds.
The winds died down Saturday morning, but another round of gusty northeast winds was expected to develop later Saturday and into Sunday, then a stronger offshore wind event will likely develop between Monday night and Wednesday. Low humidity and lack of rain were combining with strong winds to create the dangerous fire conditions, with forecasters calling this January the driest start to a rainy season on record in Southern California.
Water and fire-retardant-dropping aircraft made numerous runs on the blaze in hopes of halting its advance overnight Friday and early Saturday.
The cause of the fire was unknown. At a briefing Saturday morning, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna says authorities have not determined whether any of the fires ravaging the county were intentionally set, but LASD detectives were working with the LA county and city fire departments, the Los Angeles Police Department, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to determine their cause.
“We don’t want any gaps in information any and every clue is important,” Luna said. “If anybody out there has any information on anything suspicious, maybe there’s a conversation, maybe there’s a social media post, something that you think just doesn’t sound right, get it to us.”
The five deaths from the Palisades Fire were in addition to six confirmed deaths in the Eaton Fire in Altadena. On Thursday, representatives of the Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner removed remains from the ruins of a home in the vicinity of Duke’s restaurant in Malibu. Officials from the sheriff’s department told reporters at the scene that deputies received a missing person report, prompting them to conduct a welfare check at the burned-out home, where the remains were discovered.
Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart issued a statement saying the “tragic news weighs heavily on our hearts.”
“This is a painful reminder of the profound impact this fire is having on our community,” Stewart said. “Malibu is more than a city — we are neighbors, friends, and family. Even when we don’t know someone’s name, their loss is felt by all of us. In times like this, we must come together, support one another, and show the resilience that defines our community.”
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said another death occurred at a home in the 15300 block of Friends Street in Pacific Palisades. He said police and the medical examiner responded to the scene, and determined the death was “fire-related.” No other details were released.
“It is safe to say the Palisades Fire is one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles,” LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley said Thursday morning.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said there were a “high number of significant injuries to residents who did not evacuate, in addition to first responders who were on the fire lines.”
Those looking for someone impacted by any of the fires in Los Angeles County were asked to contact the Red Cross at 800-675-5799.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger signed an emergency proclamation in response to the fire, and the city of Los Angeles also issued an emergency declaration. Newsom later signed a state of emergency proclamation, and President Joe Biden gave approval to federal funding to help cover costs of the firefighting effort. Biden announced Thursday that the emergency funding, which normally covers 75% of costs relating to firefighting and recovery efforts, will cover 100% of the costs for 180 days.
The Getty Villa museum in Pacific Palisades was not damaged but will remain closed until at least Thursday. Katherine Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, issued a statement Tuesday evening saying that the staff and art collection at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades “remain safe,” although “some trees and vegetation on site have burned.”
The Villa houses a treasured collection of Greek and Roman antiquities.
Getty officials also said their Brentwood museum near the San Diego (405) Freeway was closed at least through Thursday “out of caution and to help alleviate traffic in the area.”