[Burning through five football fields a minute, the Palisades fire has rapidly expanded, destroying homes and prompting evacuation warnings for tens of thousands of people, from Malibu to Santa Monica. The fire has forced many to abandon their cars and seek shelter, with some considering sheltering on the beach.
The fire is one of three blazing in Los Angeles County, with the others being the 500-acre Hurst fire north of San Fernando and the 1,000-acre Eaton fire in Altadena. The Eaton fire has already destroyed a Pasadena elderly care home, with workers racing to evacuate residents, many of whom were left with only the clothes on their backs.
A firefighter was injured, and over 1,400 firefighters have been deployed to battle the blazes. There is no possibility of containing the fires tonight, and firefighters are focusing on saving lives. Some wind gusts are reaching 100 mph across Southern California.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Sheila Kelliher warned that firefighters will be in for a long night, with “tornado-like” winds expected to get worse. Fire officials used a bulldozer to move abandoned vehicles that had piled up as evacuees became stuck in traffic and decided to flee on foot.
Renowned buildings in the area, including a beloved roadside seafood restaurant in Malibu, were destroyed by the Palisades fire. A famous set for films, Palisades Charter High School, and nearby elementary school, are also engulfed in flames. Over 200,000 homes and buildings are without power.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed hundreds of personnel, including airplanes, helicopters, bulldozers, and water tenders, to battle the blaze. The Los Angeles Fire Department is also asking off-duty members to report in to help fight the fire. Five schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District will close on Wednesday, with classes moving online.
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