Tengrinews.kz - A fire, fanned by powerful storm winds, quickly engulfed an area in Southern California, destroying homes and filling the sky with smoke.
The New York Times reports that a mandatory evacuation has been ordered for residents of Pacific Palisades, an upscale coastal neighborhood west of downtown Los Angeles with a population of about 24 000. This has caused long traffic jams on Sunset Boulevard.
Breaking News: Los Angeles officials ordered 30,000 people to evacuate as a fast-growing wildfire burned through the Pacific Palisades.Follow live updates here. https://t.co/0AaUnJTyIo
— The New York Times (@nytimes) January 8, 2025
The fire had burned more than 1200 acres (over 485 hectares) by day, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported. Clouds of black and gray smoke were rising from the area toward the coast, spreading out over the Pacific Ocean.
Emergency response teams, helicopters and other aircraft were dispatched to battle the blaze.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, said Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Kristin M. Crowley. The fire threatens about 10 000 homes and about 13 000 structures, she said.
Wind gusts of up to 150 mph, the strongest in decades, are expected to continue through midday Wednesday.
Los Angeles officials warn that the worst is yet to come.
The city had previously declared a state of emergency due to high winds. The cause of the fire, which started this morning, is under investigation.
LATEST: A life-threatening wildfire is spreading across the Los Angeles area, with winds expected to pick up tonight.@MattGutmanABC reports on the fast-moving devastation of this inferno. pic.twitter.com/sPJh1tmfL9
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) January 8, 2025
A local utility company shut off power to customers in Los Angeles, Riverside and Ventura counties due to the threat of fire. More outages are expected as the fire spreads.
