Firefighters running out of water as wildfires rapidly spread through LA, forcing thousands to flee celebrity-packed enclave
There are dramatic scenes unfolding in LA where an enormous fire is ripping through an expensive celebrity enclave and one famous pair lost their home.
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A ferocious wildfire continues to ravage California’s exclusive Pacific Palisades, prompting urgent evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents as firefighters battle the blaze with dwindling resources.
The wildfire is threatening up to 10,000 homes in the area including residences owned by Ben Affleck, Chris Pratt, Reese Witherspoon and Miles Teller among many other Hollywood A-listers.
The inferno, now scorching through over 2,900 acres of Los Angeles land, is advancing at a speed that has left emergency services struggling to keep pace.
Firefighters, who have spent the day battling the flames from the air with water tankers, are now facing mounting challenges.
High winds and poor visibility means all aerial firefighting efforts have been grounded.
Authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for at least 30,000 residents across Pacific Palisades and beyond, including areas in Malibu and Calabasas.
The fire erupted midmorning and swelled quickly, taking many residents by surprise.
One man, who gave his name as Gary, told broadcaster KTLA that hot ashes were raining down on his community of Sea Ridge.
“There was smoke in the distance, and I was assured that it would not come over the hill... Five minutes later, it’s coming down the hill,” he said.
“Everyone panicked, that’s when everybody made a run and went to go and pack their houses up.” Evacuee Kelsey Trainor said she saw the fire explode in size as she was fleeing. “By the time we got to the bottom of the hill, which is about two or three miles, there were flames on both sides of the road, and it became gridlocked,” she said.
“No one knew what to do. Everyone was honking their horns. There’s flames all around you.
“I could see people walking with suitcases, with their dogs, children. An elderly woman was really visibly upset and in tears.” Pacific Palisades resident Andrew Hires told AFP he got a text alerting him to the fire as his child was at the dentist about to have a tooth extracted.
“We pulled off the mask and ran to the car,” he said.
Firefighters were forced to use bulldozers to push dozens of the vehicles, including expensive models like BMWs, Teslas and Mercedes, to one side of the road, leaving many cars crumpled and with their alarms blaring in the chaos.
Around 30,000 people were ordered to evacuate the fast-spreading flames, which levelled multiple homes as powerful winds spread embers far and wide.
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said despite the chaotic evacuation, there were no immediate reports of any deaths or injuries.
“We are not out of danger,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said in a press conference, adding that the winds are expected to pick up.
Unfortunately, it was too late for reality TV couple Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, who appeared on the MTV hit show The Hills.
TMZ reports that the couple’s Pacific Palisades home burned to the ground on Tuesday. The couple and their two children have been marked as safe, but are devastated by the loss.
Meanwhile, actor James Woods filmed the inferno from his home in the neighbourhood as he revealed he was evacuating the area.
“To all the wonderful people who’ve reached out to us, thank you for being so concerned,” he tweeted. “Just letting you know that we were able to evacuate successfully. I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing, but sadly houses on our little street are not.”
“Just been informed our next door neighbour’s house is on fire. Fortunately they were safely evacuated.”
With a huge pall of smoke visible over the whole of Los Angeles, events throughout the area were cancelled, including a red-carpet premiere of Jennifer Lopez’s new film Unstoppable.
“As much as we were looking forward to celebrating this wonderful and inspiring film with you, safety is our first priority,” the movie’s distributor, Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement to People.
“Thank you for your understanding and please stay safe.”
‘A rough night’
The fire came as the area was being hit by seasonal Santa Ana winds that forecasters said could develop into the worst windstorm in a decade, with gusts of up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) an hour expected.
“This looks pretty, pretty concerning,” said meteorologist Daniel Swain. “It’s going to be, I think, a rough night. And what’s going on now is only just the beginning, because weather conditions are going to get a lot worse.” With a huge pall of smoke visible over the whole of Los Angeles, events throughout the area were cancelled.
US President Joe Biden -- who was in Los Angeles for a planned announcement on new national monuments -- was briefed on the incident, the White House said.
The president has approved federal aid to help California tackle the blaze, Governor Gavin Newsom said.
“No politics, no hand wringing, no kissing the feet. The president of the United States said, ‘Yes. What else do you need?’” he told reporters.
Incoming president Donald Trump has previously threatened to withhold wildfire aid from Democrat-run California.
Wildfires are an expected part of life in the US West and play a vital role in nature.
But scientists say human-caused climate change is altering weather patterns. Southern California had two decades of drought that were followed by two exceptionally wet years, which sparked furious vegetative growth -- leaving the region packed with fuel and primed to burn.
— with AFP
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Originally published as Firefighters running out of water as wildfires rapidly spread through LA, forcing thousands to flee celebrity-packed enclave
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