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Wind powered forest fire spread over Californiaprompting authorities to order the evacuation of at least 30,000 people as the fast-growing fire burns 3,000 hectares.
No deaths was confirmed in Pacific Palisades, known for being home to several A-listershowever, many houses were devastated in the wake of the fire and were left damaged.
Among the injured are a 25-year-old firefighter with “multiple burns”, he said Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) spokesman Erik Scott said.
The LAFD said the fire was zero percent contained as of Wednesday morning.
Other wildfires have been declared, including the Eaton fire, which has spread to 1,000 acres through Altadena, Pasadena, Arcadia and the Sierra Madre, and the Hurst fire in Sylmar, which has spread to 500 acres.
Almost 300,000 homes and businesses across Southern California were left without power while the fire is still raging, in the meantime, over a thousand members of the fire service have been deployed to the scene to try to suppress the fires.
Pacific Palisades is a residential community and attracts very few tourists, however, the area in which it is located, Los Angeles County, is popular with visitors who go to the sandy shores of Venice Beach, explore Hollywood, and tour studios and museums among many other attractions.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is relatively close to the Palisades fire, but so far there has been minimal travel disruption.
Meanwhile, several roads, including parts of the Pacific Coast Highway, have been closed since early Wednesday morning.
Did the fire affect flights at LAX?
LAX is located about 18 miles south of Pacific Palisades, but most arrivals and departures continued as normal amid the wildfires.
As of Wednesday morning, most flights scheduled to arrive had done so on time, with the exception of a few flights that were delayed, but there appeared to be no cancellations as of Tuesday, FlightRadar24 data showed.
There were a number of diversions on Tuesday, such as a Flexjet flight diverted to Long Beach Airport and a Southwest flight diverted to San Diego Airport.
There were very few canceled departures on Tuesday, but most flights were delayed by no more than an hour. However, some departures that had longer delays, especially in the late evening.
Passengers should check with their airline for their flight details prior to travel.
Did the fire affect other trips?
The LAFD said Pacific Coast Highway is closed from the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica to Topanga Canyon and the LAPD is directing traffic for evacuations.
Caltrans, CaliforniaThe Department of Transportation has announced several road closures due to wildfires across the region.
“As of 1:30 a.m., highways are completely closed at various locations due to fire or wind-related incidents. Limit non-essential travel and stay away from those areas!” Caltrans he wrote in his update.
Closing from 1am local time on Wednesday:
- Southbound Pacific Coast Highway closed at Cross Creek Road. The northbound lanes were closed in the McClure Tunnel.
- Westbound I-10 traffic was detoured onto Lincoln Boulevard.
- State Route 27 (Topanga Canyon Boulevard) is closed in both directions between Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive.
- In Azusa, State Route 39 (San Gabriel Canyon Road) is closed north of the city as a precautionary measure. Only residents were allowed to enter.
- Westbound lanes of I-210 are closed at Roxford Street. Traffic is being diverted there.
- Eastbound lanes of I-210 are closed at I-5.
- The northbound and eastbound connectors from I-5 to the eastbound 210 Freeway are closed.
- I-5 northbound truck lanes were closed for I-210 and State Route 14.
Authorities warned that some traffic lights may not work due to the power outage.
“When traffic lights are dark or flashing red, treat them as a stop sign. Due to high winds and power outages, some highways and on-ramp locations may have signals that are temporarily out. Slow down if the power goes out in your area,” Caltrans said.
“Be prepared to take alternate routes to avoid road closures and come to a complete stop when lights are flashing red or not working during the Palisades Fire,” the city of Malibu added.
Which attractions are closed?
Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk announced that they will be closed on Wednesday, January 8, due to extreme winds and wildfires.
“We will continue to assess the situation and expect to open for business tomorrow. The safety of our team members and our guests is our top priority,” the park the update said to the guests.
The Getty Center will also be closed on Wednesday, and The Getty Villa will be closed until Monday, January 13. A fire tore through the grounds of The Getty Villa Museum, located in Palisades, on Tuesday, burning some vegetation, but officials have said that the structure and its collections are safe.
National travel tips
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel tips for the US, warning travelers of the rapidly spreading wildfires currently active in Los Angeles County.
The FCDO wrote: “You should monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities. More detailed information can be found at CAL FIRE.
“If you need consular assistance, call +1 310 789 0031 or visit Emergency services. In the UK call +44 (0) 20 7008 5000.”
Where are the fires and where is the evacuation order?
The forest fires that engulfed several houses did spread across the affluent Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles County.
By Tuesday evening, the fire had grown from 300 hectares to nearly 3,000, fueled by a fierce storm.
Beyond the Palisades, the Hurst Fire, which is raging through Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley, has grown to 500 acres, according to an incident update from Cal Fire.
According to the latest USDA Forest Service estimates, the Eaton Fire, which has burned through Altadena, Pasadena, Arcadia and the Sierra Madre, has grown to 1,000 acres.
Evacuation orders and evacuation warnings are in effect for many areas and communities in or around the fire area.
Cal Fire has issued a red flag warning for the region saying it faces the threat of extreme wildfires fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity and critically dry vegetation.
Can I cancel my holiday or flight and get a refund?
As the State Department has not warned about non-essential travel to the US, there will be no special circumstances that could cancel a trip with a full refund.
The conditions for canceling your trip depend on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you want to postpone.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you wish to cancel, and you will not be able to claim travel insurance for security reasons unless the Foreign Office advice changes.
When it comes to travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster coverage for an event that prevents you from reaching your vacation destination. Check your insurance policies and talk to your insurer to see where you stand.
As for flights, Simon Calder, travel correspondent at The Independent, says: “Regardless of the cause of the cancellation and regardless of the amount of notice given, you can insist on alternative carriage: the airline must get you to your destination as soon as possible, if that’s what you want.”
“The UK Civil Aviation Authority says this means that if a flight is available on the original day of travel, the passenger must be booked on it – even if it is on a competing carrier.”
However, monetary compensation may not be available, as airlines can claim that the fires were caused by ‘extraordinary circumstances’, meaning the cancellation was not the airline’s fault.
For more travel news and tips, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast