Mandatory evacuations were ordered for the Hollywood Hills as wildfires spread across Los Angeles, with the fire chief saying the blaze was “expanding rapidly.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said the area poses an “immediate threat to life” and is legally closed to the public.
There are currently at least five fires burning across Los Angeles, and five people have been confirmed dead.
More than 130,000 people have already been forced to evacuate, and the homes of numerous celebrities, including Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal, have been destroyed.
California Fire Chief David Acuna told the BBC that the Hollywood Hills fire was at zero progress and was rapidly escalating.
“The winds have been blowing steadily at 60 to 100 miles per hour (95 to 160 kilometers per hour) since yesterday morning,” Acuna said. “It actually blew harder last night.”
Wind speeds have now dropped to about 30 mph, but Acuna added: “They’re still pretty high and they’re very dangerous because there’s a lot of open space.”
The first fire started Tuesday in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood near Malibu, and other fires have since broken out across north Malibu.
As of 20:15 local time (04:00 GMT), the four fires in the Palisades, Pasadena, Sylmar, and Hollywood Hills areas had covered more than 27,000 acres (42 square miles, 109 square kilometers) and were 0% contained. , according to the LAFD.
One fire in the Acton area was partially extinguished and two others were fully extinguished.
The fire in Hollywood Hills, a residential neighborhood overlooking the city’s historic Hollywood district, started around 18:00 local time on Wednesday.
Less than two hours later, much of central Hollywood was covered in thick smoke, and the tops of the palm trees lining the streets were barely visible.
People covered their faces with sweatshirts to help them breathe, and those startled by the fire wore only pajamas. Many people were talking on their phones, carrying bags and suitcases and making plans for where to go.
Many roads near the fire were backed up by traffic, including Hollywood Boulevard, home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Some people even drove to the wrong side of the road when trying to leave the area.
Resident Anna Waldman told the BBC she went out to walk her dog but smelled smoke as soon as she got outside.
She went back inside, looked out the back window, saw the fire, and watched it speed through the Hollywood Hills and come within a block of her house.
She packed everything she could: food, clothes, blankets and food for her three small dogs.
“I can’t believe it.” She said, taking off her mask with a tired expression.
Makayla Jackson, 26, and her two-year-old son, Ramari, were evacuated from a homeless shelter that was at risk of burning and were now standing on the street waiting for a ride to the high school where they were providing help. . people.
“They just told us to get out there and go,” she said.
Firefighters fighting the fire experienced water shortages and had to draw water from swimming pools and ponds.
Officials said three 1-million-gallon tanks were full before the fire started, but the fire’s severity meant water could not move quickly enough to hydrants in the affected area.
Additionally, the city does not typically experience fires of this scale. The Palisades Fire is already the most destructive fire in history and the system was designed for urban use, not wildfire suppression.
