Palisades fire: Newsom declares state of emergency, thousands evacuated

Palisades Charter High School catches fire

The Palisades Fire has scorched over 1,200 acres in Pacific Palisades, and the flames have spread to Palisades Charter High School.

LOS ANGELES - Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Tuesday as the Pacific Palisades fire continued to grow, burning over 1,260 acres and forcing evacuations of tens of thousands of residents. During a visit to the impacted area, Newsom pledged the state’s support for firefighters and local communities battling the blaze.

"This is a highly dangerous windstorm creating extreme fire risk, and we’re not out of the woods," Newsom said. He thanked first responders for their rapid response and urged residents to follow evacuation orders.

The fire broke out Tuesday morning near Piedra Morada and Monte Hermoso drives. By late afternoon, it had rapidly expanded due to strong winds, placing over 13,000 structures at risk.

How dangerous winds are impacting the fire

The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for much of Southern California, predicting winds up to 100 mph in Los Angeles County through Thursday. These life-threatening conditions have made firefighting efforts more challenging.

Firefighters reported that the winds fueled the fire’s rapid spread, impacting residential areas and infrastructure, including parts of Pacific Coast Highway and Sunset Boulevard.

Emergency resources mobilized

To support the response, California secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from FEMA to fund additional resources. Newsom announced:

• Prepositioning of fire engines, helicopters, and personnel in affected counties.

• Deployment of CAL FIRE units from Northern California to bolster Southern California efforts.

• Increased aerial firefighting capacity in high-risk zones.

Evacuation centers have been established at the Westwood Recreation Center and the Dream Center in Hollywood, with shelters for large animals available at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center and Pierce College.

Newsom updates state response to Palisades Fire

Gov. Gavin Newsom provides updates on California's response to the raging Palisades Fire. He also thanked President Joe Biden for approving emergency funds for firefighting efforts.

Evacuations and road closures

Over 30,000 residents are under mandatory evacuation orders, with LAPD coordinating the effort. Evacuation zones extend from Merrimac Road to Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway.

Road closures include:

• Eastbound PCH at Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

• Portions of Sunset Boulevard and the 10 Freeway.

Traffic gridlock has further complicated evacuations, with over 100 cars abandoned by residents fleeing the area.