Wildfire breaks out in Southern California, mandatory evacuations issued

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Lauren Taylor Anchor/Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor/Reporter), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

A fast-moving wildfire erupted Tuesday, Jan. 7, in the Pacific Palisades, roughly 20 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. Residents have been issued mandatory evacuations as firefighters battle the flames in steep, rugged terrain.

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The Palisades Fire, fueled by a strong windstorm and ongoing drought, broke out near a neighborhood between Santa Monica and Malibu. By evening, the fire had spread to Los Angeles, growing to over 2,900 acres.

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Los Angeles officials declared a state of emergency, as nearly 30,000 people had to evacuate their homes.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on X that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support local fire departments with response costs.

Numerous fire crews are working to contain the fast-moving flames. However, firefighters have had difficulty getting their trucks up Palisades Drive after residents abandoned their vehicles in the middle of the roadway.

KTLA spoke with actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives nearby and offered to help.

“If anybody has a car and they leave their car, leave the keys in the car so that we can move your car,” said Guttenberg. “So that these fire trucks can get up Palisades Drive. What happens is people take their keys with them as if they’re in a parking lot. This is not a parking lot. We really need people to move their cars.”

As of Tuesday night, the fire remains 0% contained, according to Cal Fire.

Crews will continue to work through the night, and residents are urged to monitor local announcements for evacuation updates.

Tags: California, Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles, Wildfire

A FAST-MOVING WILDFIRE BROKE OUT IN THE PACIFIC PALISADES AREA OF LOS ANGELES TUESDAY, PROMPTING MANDATORY EVACUATIONS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AS FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE THE FLAMES IN STEEP, RUGGED TERRAIN.

THE PALISADES FIRE FUELED BY A STRONG WINDSTORM AND DROUGHT BROKE OUT TUESDAY NEAR A NEIGHBORHOOD IN BETWEEN SANTA MONICA AND MALIBU. BY EVENING, THE FIRE SPREAD TO LOS ANGELES, GROWING OVER 2,900 ACRES.

NEARLY 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES.

LOS ANGELES OFFICIALS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM ANNOUNCED ON X FEMA APPROVED A FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THEIR RESPONSE COSTS.

NUMEROUS FIRE CREWS ARE WORKING TO CONTAIN THE WHIPPING FLAMES, HOWEVER, FIREFIGHTERS HAD ISSUES GETTING THEIR TRUCKS UP PALISADES DRIVE – BECAUSE SOME RESIDENTS ATTEMPTING TO FLEE CAUSED A TRAFFIC JAM BY DITCHING THEIR CARS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY.

KTLA SPOKE TO ACTOR STEVE GUTTENBERG WHO LIVES NEARBY AND JUMPED INTO ACTION TO HELP.

“IF ANYBODY HAS A CAR AND THEY LEAVE THEIR CAR, LEAVE THE KEYS IN THE CAR SO THAT WE CAN MOVE YOUR CAR,” SAID GUTTENBERG. “SO THAT THESE FIRE TRUCKS CAN GET UP PALISADES DRIVE. WHAT HAPPENS IS PEOPLE TAKE THEIR KEYS WITH THEM AS IF THEY’RE IN A PARKIN LOT. THIS IS NOT A PARKING LOT. WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE TO MOVE THEIR CARS.”

AS OF TUESDAY NIGHT, THE FIRE IS 0% CONTAINED, ACCORDING TO CAL FIRE.

CREWS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE NIGHT, AND RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO MONITOR LOCAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR EVACUATION UPDATES.

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS CURRENTLY IN LOS ANGELES WITH THE FIRST LADY, AND HAS BEEN BRIEFED ON THE SITUATION.

BIDEN IS EXPECTED TO DEPART LA AND HEAD BACK TO WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY.