A fast-moving wildfire broke out in the Los Angeles hillsides on Tuesday, pushing residents to evacuate as powerful winds fanned flames across dry brush. The blaze quickly consumed more than 200 acres of steep terrain in the Pacific Palisades area and produced a massive plume of smoke visible for miles.
Firefighters worked around the clock to contain multiple small blazes that sprang up across Los Angeles, including the Pacific Palisades fire, which forced evacuations in nearby neighborhoods. Traffic snarled in and out of the area as residents fled the thickening smoke and encroaching flames.
Windstorm Predicted to Worsen
Forecasters warned that Southern California’s windstorm could worsen significantly, with Santa Ana gusts possibly reaching 100 mph (160 kph) in mountain and foothill regions. The National Weather Service cautioned that these winds might topple trees and power lines, create hazardous driving conditions, and churn up dangerous coastal surf.
The potential for additional fire outbreaks is amplified by the unusually dry weather since last spring. Many parts of Southern California have seen almost no rainfall for months, and large swaths of vegetation have dried out to the point of becoming kindling. Climate scientist Daniel Swain underscored the concern, noting that abundant spring growth—resulting from earlier rains—has now turned into fuel for a “wind event of this magnitude.”
Evacuations and School Closures
The Los Angeles Unified School District temporarily relocated students from three campuses near the foothills out of caution. Meanwhile, local utilities weighed preemptive power shutdowns across eight counties to prevent downed lines or damaged equipment from igniting new fires. In recent years, California utilities have increasingly used such measures during peak wind events.
Fire Risk Continues to Rise
Officials say this windstorm could be the strongest in over a decade. During a similar event in November 2011, more than 400,000 customers lost power across Los Angeles County. Jeff Monford, a spokesperson for a major regional utility, emphasized that while the grid is designed to withstand high winds, debris and fallen trees can strike power lines, causing outages and potential fire hazards.
Meteorologists are keeping a close watch on conditions, warning that the prolonged dryness—compounded by fierce winds—will keep fire danger high. As crews contain active blazes and residents remain under evacuation orders, the region braces for what could be a prolonged and perilous fire season.