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The weather has been working in firefighters' favor Tuesday as they build containment lines around the Getty Fire, which broke out early Monday near the Getty Museum. But authorities are preparing for the worst as an extreme Santa Ana wind event forecasted tonight brings a high fire risk back to Southern California.
The Getty Fire, which is burning in the Mandeville Canyon area west of the 405 Freeway, grew to 656 acres overnight, Los Angeles Fire Department officials said Tuesday morning. The wind-driven blaze prompted the evacuation of thousands of homes and other structures, and destroyed or damaged at least 14.
While some of the evacuation orders from the previous night have been lifted, many residents are still unable to return to their homes.
Fire officials said eight structures have been destroyed and six have been damaged. For much of Monday, the fire closed all southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway from the 101 Freeway to Sunset Boulevard, though the lanes were reopened that evening. On- and off-ramps through the Sepulveda Pass remain closed.
On the first day, emergency responders undertook at least 18 rescue missions, all/mostly of elderly residents.
Garcetti signed an emergency declaration to bring more aide to the area.
THE BASICS
- Acres burned: 656
- Containment: 15%
- Injuries: None reported
- Structures damaged or destroyed: at least 12 structures destroyed, five damaged
- Structures threatened: 7,091 homes
- Resources deployed: About 1,165 personnel across multiple agencies
At the incident command post at Jackie Robinson Stadium Tuesday morning, firefighters posted a list of four control objectives:
- Keep the fire west of the 405 Freeway
- Keep the fire south of Mullholland Highway
- Keep the fire east of Mandeville Canyon
- Keep the fire north of Sunset Boulevard
That may look simple, but firefighters will be hard at work building containment lines in steep terrain while also protecting structures in the burn zone.
"This fire will not be down and done for at least a couple weeks," Mayor Eric Garcetti said at a 8 a.m. press briefing.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is in L.A. today and surveyed some of the damage from the Getty Fire with Mayor Garcetti. Over the weekend, Newsom declared a statewide emergency as multiple high-intesity fires — including the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County and the Tick Fire in the Santa Clarita area — destroyed homes and displaced tens of thousands of Californians.
The state has also secured a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant, which will "help ensure the availability of resources to fight the Getty Fire," according to the governor's office.
With @CAGovernor Newsom in the #GettyFire evacuation zone, seeing first-hand the incredible work that @LAFD and our partners are doing. State and regional agencies are closely coordinating their resources to contain this fire so Angelenos can return home as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/YstH2kcSuG
— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) October 29, 2019
RELATED: California Fires Are Getting Worse. What's Going On?
WEATHER CONDITIONS
An "extreme red flag warning" has been issued for Tuesday night, starting at 11 p.m. and running through 6 p.m. Thursday. Wind gusts of 30-50 mph are expected Tuesday evening, but peak gusts could hit 80 mph in regional mountains.
"There is a high probability of fire ignition, with very rapid fire growth and extreme fire behavior," NWS forecasters said.
Forecasters have warned that the combination of gusty Santa Winds, low humidity and dry fuels could lead to rapid fire growth. That also means L.A.'s red flag parking restrictions will be put in place at 8 p.m.
"It's a dangerous season right now," LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas said Monday. "Santa Ana winds pick up in September and last through April. We have not had any significant rainfall for a period of time. So that's why we're very, very concerned about these weather conditions."
On Tuesday, Terrazas once again urged residents to sign up for the city's emergency alerts.
The state's Office of Emergency Services is deploying Fire and Rescue personnel in Southern California in anticipation for the extreme fire risk overnight.
Mandatory evacuations were issued in the area with the following borders:
- Northern border: Mulholland Drive
- Western border: Temescal Canyon Road
- Southern border: Sunset Boulevard
- Eastern border: 405 Freeway
Voluntary evacuations were issued in the area with the following borders:
- The Mountaingate community turned from a mandatory evacuation area to a voluntary evacuation area at 5 p.m. Monday
- Northern border: Mulholland Drive
- Western border: Topanga Canyon
- Southern border: Sunset Boulevard
- Eastern border: Temescal Canyon Road
EVACUATION CENTERS
For people:
- Westwood Recreation Center, 1350 South Supulveda (transitioned to overnight shelter Monday night)
- Palisades Recreation Center, 851 Alma Real Dr. (transitioned to overnight shelter Monday night)
Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center, 14201 Huston St. (CLOSED)Stoner Recreation Center, 1835 Stoner Ave. (CLOSED)Cheviot Hills Recreation Center, 2551 Motor Ave. (CLOSED)
For animals:
- West Valley Animal Shelter, 20655 Plummer St.
- West L.A. Animal Shelter, 11361 W Pico Bl.
- Large Animals: Hanson Dam Recreation Center, 11770 Foothill Blvd.
Another potentially life-threatening impact from the fire emerged Tuesday: as the city of L.A.'s animal shelters take in displaced pets, there is now less room for the homeless pets already there.
The city's animal services department said Tuesday that some local shelters are in urgent need of people to foster and adopt animals.
DUE TO THE FIRE: We need YOUR help making life-saving space at our centers by adopting or fostering pets. To foster, fill out an application off of our website and take it to your nearest LAAS location. We're open from 8 am - 5 pm Tu - Sat, and 11 am - 5 pm Sun. pic.twitter.com/zs0QMMIr8h
— LA Animal Services (@LACityPets) October 29, 2019
More information is available on the L.A. Animal Services website.
The southbound 405 through the Sepulveda Pass was reopened at 6 p.m. Monday, but other closures remain in effect, according to the California Highway Patrol:
- All on- and offramps on both the northbound and southbound 405 Freeway between the 101 Freeway and Sunset Boulevard
- Westbound Sunset Boulevard from the 405 to Temescal Canyon
- Northbound Sepulveda Boulevard from Moraga Drive to Skirball Center Drive
- Southbound Sepulveda from Skirball to Sunset
- Planned construction on PCH in Malibu, L.A. and Santa Monica has been canceled for the remainder of the week
SCHOOL CLOSURES
- The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District anounced all its schools have reopened Tuesday
- Mount St. Mary's University remains closed Tuesday
- The following LAUSD schools also remain closed Tuesday:
- University High School
- Emerson Middle School
- Revere Middle School
- Brentwood Elementary
- Brockton Elementary
- Canyon Elementary
- Community Magnet
- Fairburn Elementary
- Kenter Canyon Elementary
- Marquez Elementary
- Palisades Elementary
- Roscomare Elementary
- Nora Sterry Elementary
- Topanga Elementary
- Warner Elementary
- Westwood Elementary
- University High School
- LAUSD charter schools:
- Citizens of the World Charter (Gateway and Ivy Place campuses)
- Magnolia Science Academy, #4 and #6
- Palisades Charter High School
AIR QUALITY
The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended a smoke advisory through Tuesday morning.
Winds are expected to push smoke to the north Tuesday, impacting the San Fernando Valley, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley and Burbank.
Check AQMD's website for a live map of air quality conditions.
BACKGROUND
The Getty Fire broke out just after 1:30 a.m. Monday morning about 50 acres west of the 405 Freeway near Sunset Boulevard, not far from the Getty Center. Within hours, it had spread to hundreds of acres and prompted thousands of mandatory evacuations.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, but at a Monday morning press conference Mayor Garcetti said the blaze was not caused by anyone in homeless encampments in the area.
HOW WE'RE REPORTING ON THIS
Reporter Sharon McNary is providing coverage from the command center. Digital producer Ryan Fonseca is keeping this story updated. Additional research and reporting is being done by KPCC newscast producers.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For the latest information straight from local emergency officials, check the following websites and social media accounts:
- Every Day Is Fire Season. Here's How Angelenos Can Prepare Right Now
- How To Find Out About Fire Evacuations In Your Area
- How To Keep Yourself Safe From Wildfire Smoke
- The Air Is Brown — Should I Wear A Mask?
- What Does 'Containment' Of A Fire Mean, Exactly?
- This Is Why Fire Officials Don't Want You To Stay And Defend Your Home
- What To Do — And Not Do — When You Get Home After A Wildfire
- How To Avoid Getting Towed During LA's Red Flag Parking Restrictions
- If You Want To Help Fire Victims, Resist The Urge To Volunteer
YOUR QUESTIONS