A massive inferno tearing its way through Los Angeles has officially turned deadly as authorities urge the 20,000 residents of the Pacific Palisades to flee.
The California Department of Forest and Fire Protection warned residents Tuesday evening that there is an “imminent threat” to their lives.
“This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW,” the department said. “The area is legally closed to the public.”
The evacuation notice has caused a gridlock on Sunset Boulevard as LA residents flee, leaving behind their mansions as the fire spreads to 3,000 acres.
But parts of the Pacific Coast Highway were closed due to the fire, forcing some residents to abandon their vehicles. reports the New York Times.
Meanwhile, more than 100 firefighters and strike teams are now working to battle the blaze, which only started around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Los Angeles firefighter David Ortiz said.
The storm was fueled by what California authorities called “life-threatening, destructive” winds, causing the storm to quickly spread across the area.
The fire that swept through Los Angeles spread to 1,200 hectares late Tuesday
More than 100 firefighters and strike teams are now battling the fire, which only started around 10.30am on Tuesday.
As the fire spread, Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg described how people abandoned their cars, making it difficult for fire trucks to get onto the road.
He urged fellow neighbors to leave their keys in their cars when they abandon their cars “so guys like me can move your car.”
“We really need people to move their cars,” he said KTL. “So if you leave your car on Palisades Drive, leave the key in there.”
The actor said he had friends who couldn’t leave their homes because of abandoned vehicles.
X user Jonathan Vigliotti posted a video of a car burning uncontrollably in the driveway.
“Come on, guys!” he shouted, his voice full of fear. “We have to go!”
“We were in a neighborhood when it went up in flames. Mass panic in the streets, and the worst of the winds will hit the Palisades Fire tonight,” he wrote on X.
The California Department of Forest and Fire Protection urged residents to ‘LEAVE NOW’
Some residents were forced to abandon their vehicles as they tried to flee
A man is seen abandoning his car in a traffic jam as he tries to evacuate
Other residents shared the horrors they faced, with Nina Dimitreli telling DailyMail.com that she and her daughter Alexandra were lucky to drive out of town with their clothes on their backs and their two small dogs, Aspen and Buster.
She described the scene as “chaotic” and “frightening” with people running, sirens blaring and airplanes full of ocean water buzzing overhead.
‘People park their cars on the side of the road, get out and run for their lives!’ Nina told DailyMail.com. “People are literally running on the sidewalks, pulling children by their hands and carrying Louis Vuitton luggage.
‘A man ran away with two Gucci suitcases and a houseplant. It looks like something out of a disaster movie.’
A Los Angeles firefighter drags a hose past cars trying to evacuate a neighborhood threatened by the Palisades wildfire
In an effort to help contain the fire, Southern California Edison (SCE) shut off power to Cuthbert, Galahad and parts of Malibu.
In an effort to help contain the fire, Southern California Edison (SCE) shut off power to Cuthbert, Galahad and parts of Malibu.
The company expected the power to be out for at least eight hours, but noted that this could be longer if crews need daylight to visibly inspect power lines and equipment. The inspection is required before SCE will restore power.
More than 42,800 residents across California were without power Tuesday evening, with nearly 29,000 of them getting their power from SCE, according to poweroutage.us.