Hundreds of Southern California homes, including some in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades, are at risk as fire fighters rush to curb rapidly spreading brush fires.
Reese Witherspoon
The Palisades Fire started at around 10 a.m. PST on Monday and spread to 18 acres within 15 minutes, according to CNN. By Monday night, it had burned through 40 acres of brush and prompted evacuation orders for 200 homes within eight residential blocks in Pacific Palisades.
While firefighters were able to contain the fire to up to 10 percent and allow the evacuees to return home, Tuesday is expected to bring more dry winds — and, with them, risks of the fire growing out of control.
“This could be one of our most critical weeks of the fall season for fire weather due to very warm temperatures and bouts of Santa Ana winds,” the National Weather Service said in a statement to USA Today.
Adam Levine
As of Tuesday morning, there have been two reported injuries — a firefighter and a civilian with respiratory problems. According to reports, firefighters will need to work to stop the fire from spreading for at least 48 hours. The Pacific Palisades neighborhood is an affluent part of city where many celebrities live. The houses of stars like Tyra Banks, Reese Witherspoon and Adam Levine could all be at risk if the fires get worse.
Tyra Banks
Late September and early October is the most at-risk time for wildfires and brushfires. As the weather becomes dry, sparks can latch on to vegetation and set off major fires. Indeed, a second brush fire is spreading 70 miles from Pacific Palisades in San Bernardino County, burning through 17 acres and damaging nine homes.
Crews have been working through the night to keep the fire from spreading while mandatory evacuation orders and road closures are already in place from last night.
“Everyone in high fire danger areas should be cautious and ready to quickly evacuate, since fire danger weather conditions will continue to be dangerously dry and windy over the next several days,” the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement.