Fast-moving fire in Pacific Palisades grows to 200 acres amid treacherous winds

Grace Toohey and Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times on Jan 7, 2025

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LOS ANGELES — At least two fires started in the Los Angeles area Tuesday morning amid a “ life-threatening and destructive” windstorm that officials have warned could rapidly transform a spark into a fast-moving wildfire.

In the Pacific Palisades, more than 100 firefighters were battling a 200-acre brush fire that started at 10:30 a.m. near Piedra Morada Drive, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The blaze was threatening several homes, and evacuations had been ordered for the Sunset Mesa area.

The city of Los Angeles warned residents near the fire to “get set for a potential wildfire evacuation by gathering supplies and loved ones.”

Just after 10 a.m., a structure fire in West Hollywood spread to brush near West Sunset Boulevard, according to the LAFD. That fire was initially estimated to be about a quarter-acre in size.

The region remains under severe red flag warnings as dry, unpredictable and strong offshore winds pick up across the region. Gusts up to 100 mph are possible in some parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and had already hit 60 to 80 mph in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.

Amid a parched landscape, the major wind event was again creating particularly dangerous fire weather — similar to the conditions that were in place when both the Mountain fire in November in Ventura County and the Franklin fire in December in Malibu erupted.

Early Tuesday morning, winds had already picked up across the region, hitting 70 mph at Magic Mountain Truck Trail in the western San Gabriel Mountains and 63 mph on Dexter Park Road in the Western San Fernando Valley.

In the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Valley, winds have been recorded at over 50 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Officials said those gusts are only the beginning, with peak winds speeds expected Tuesday afternoon through early Wednesday.

“Strong, damaging and potentially life-threatening Santa Ana winds are still on track for SoCal,” the weather service posted on X early Tuesday.