Palisades Fire Makes Sharp Turn Toward Major Population Center
Firefighters Battle to Contain Blaze in San Fernando Valley and UCLA Area
The Palisades Fire, already one of the most destructive natural disasters in the history of Los Angeles, made a significant and sharp turn toward one of the city’s major population centers late Friday night.
Fire Shifts North and East
After burning the iconic Pacific Palisades neighborhood to the ground and attacking beachside communities, the blaze shifted north toward the San Fernando Valley and east toward UCLA. Images from Sky5 showed fire crews attempting to prevent the northern expansion of the blaze into the Valley, which was getting "uncomfortably close" to Encino and Tarzana, according to KTLA’s Gil Leyvas. The fire was approaching the area where the 101 and 405 Freeways meet.
Road Closures and Evacuation Orders
To control the amount of people in the Valley, officials closed off several exits along the 405 Freeway, including:
- Getty Center Drive off-ramps in both directions
- Skirball Center Drive off-ramps in both directions
- Southbound Sunset Blvd. off-ramp
- Southbound Wilshire Blvd. off-ramp
- Southbound Santa Monica Blvd. off-ramp
- Southbound Olympic/Pico Blvd. off-ramp
Tens of thousands of people remain under evacuation orders or warnings. The evacuation order extended throughout the Pacific Palisades to the Pacific Ocean and included areas of Santa Monica, Malibu, and Topanga. Residents and businesses in Calabasas and parts of Tarzana and Encino remained under an evacuation warning on Saturday morning.
Fire’s Impact on UCLA and Westwood
The fire also shifted east toward Westwood and the UCLA campus. The UCLA Police Department on Friday night told the university’s community to be prepared in case the evacuation warnings adjacent to campus turn into evacuation orders.
Fire Statistics and Updates
As of the most recent update at 1:04 a.m. Saturday, the Palisades Fire covered 21,596 acres and was 8% contained. It had claimed the lives of at least two people. More than 3,700 firefighting personnel were assigned to the blaze and 24 helicopters and 463 engines were battling the flames.
Conclusion
The Palisades Fire has left a trail of destruction and devastation in its wake, with thousands of structures destroyed and millions of dollars in damage. The fire’s unpredictable behavior and rapid spread have left many residents and business owners reeling. As authorities continue to battle the blaze, the community remains on high alert and evacuation orders remain in place.
FAQs
- What is the current size of the Palisades Fire?
The Palisades Fire has covered 21,596 acres. - What is the containment level of the fire?
The fire is 8% contained. - How many people have lost their lives in the fire?
At least two people have lost their lives in the fire. - How many structures have been destroyed?
More than 5,000 structures are estimated to be destroyed. - What is the estimated damage from the fire?
The damage is believed to be in the tens of billions of dollars.
