A fast-moving wildfire erupted Tuesday, Jan. 7, in the Pacific Palisades, roughly 20 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. Residents have been issued mandatory evacuations as firefighters battle the flames in steep, rugged terrain.
The Palisades Fire, fueled by a strong windstorm and ongoing drought, broke out near a neighborhood between Santa Monica and Malibu. By evening, the fire had spread to Los Angeles, growing to over 2,900 acres.
Los Angeles officials declared a state of emergency, as nearly 30,000 people had to evacuate their homes.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on X that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support local fire departments with response costs.
Numerous fire crews are working to contain the fast-moving flames. However, firefighters have had difficulty getting their trucks up Palisades Drive after residents abandoned their vehicles in the middle of the roadway.
KTLA spoke with actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives nearby and offered to help.
“If anybody has a car and they leave their car, leave the keys in the car so that we can move your car,” said Guttenberg. “So that these fire trucks can get up Palisades Drive. What happens is people take their keys with them as if they’re in a parking lot. This is not a parking lot. We really need people to move their cars.”
As of Tuesday night, the fire remains 0% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Crews will continue to work through the night, and residents are urged to monitor local announcements for evacuation updates.
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