A large brush fire broke out Tuesday afternoon in Pacific Palisades, prompting mandatory evacuations affecting tens of thousands of people and highway closures.
There are more than 13,000 buildings and 26,000 people in the evacuation zone, which has been labeled “under immediate threat,” according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
No injuries or fatalities were confirmed, as of 5 p.m., according to LAFD spokesperson Margaret Stewart.
One of those on high alert is the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades off Pacific Coast Highway.
RECORD FIRE IN CALIFORNIA BURNS HUNDREDS OF ACRES, FORCES EVACUATIONS, INJURES MULTIPLE FIREFIGHTERS
Getty spokesperson Alexandria Sivak told Fox News Digital the Getty Villa is now closed to non-emergency staff.Â
“It is already closed to the public on Tuesdays, so there were no [members of the] public on site,” Sivak said. “The villa site is currently safe, and we are in ongoing contact with LAFD and closely monitoring the situation.”
Officials said the department is prioritizing all structures as the flames spread, not just those that may be tourist attractions.
“They’re all notable to us,” Stewart said. “We’re working to extinguish and defend all structures.”
There are mandatory evacuation orders in place from Merrimac Road west to Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and south to Pacific Coast Highway.Â
An evacuation center has been opened at Westwood Recreation Center, located at 1350 South Sepulveda Blvd. in Los Angeles.
Stewart said if needed, the city’s emergency management division will provide information about additional locations.
A fire that started at about 1:30 p.m. near Piedra Morada and Monte Hermoso drives quickly escalated by 2 p.m., with nearly 20 acres burned, according to the department.
The fire impacted roughly 200 acres by 3 p.m., demolishing several buildings in the Pacific Palisades Highlands.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles warned of a “life-threatening and dangerous windstorm” rolling through the area late Tuesday through Wednesday. Red flag warnings are expected to remain in place until Thursday evening.
