A deadly wildfire is ripping through Pacific Palisades, forcing the evacuation of its 20,000 residents and causing chaos on the streets. Authorities have issued an “immediate” evacuation order, urging residents to “LEAVE NOW.”
The 700-acre fire, which was first reported around 10:30am on Tuesday, has been described as a “blowtorch” by authorities. Firefighter David Ortiz warned, “Do not stand in the way of this fire. This is pretty much the worst possible scenario for a firefight.”
As residents flee, they are leaving behind their cars in the middle of the road, causing a gridlock on Sunset Boulevard. Some schools in Brentwood are also being evacuated.
Jonathan Vigliotti, a user on X, posted a video of a car burning uncontrollably in a driveway, calling out to his friends to leave immediately. “Come on, guys! We got to go!” he exclaimed.
Actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in the area, urged his neighbors to leave their keys in their cars if they are abandoning them, so that others can move them out of the way. “We really need people to move their cars,” he said. “So if you leave your car on Palisades Drive, leave the key in there.”
More than 100 firefighters and strike teams are battling the massive blaze, which is rapidly moving west and is expected to be fueled by strong winds. Wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour are expected in Ventura and LA Counties, making the situation “life-threatening” and the most damaging since 2011.
Parts of the Pacific Coast Highway are also shut down due to the fire. Residents are being asked to evacuate the area in a specific manner, using only Palisades Drive, Sunset Boulevard, and Pacific Coast Highway. They are also being warned to be on the lookout for strong winds, downed power lines, and other hazards.
The power has been shut off to some areas, with approximately 10,000 people without electricity, including 5,600 provided by Southern California Edison. The company expects the power to be out for at least eight hours, and possibly longer.
