A Palisades wildfire prompted emergency officials to order residents in a western Los Angeles neighbourhood to evacuate their homes Tuesday as forecasters warn a potentially life-threatening windstorm could fuel the fire’s rapid spread.
The Palisades Fire ignited in the Santa Monica Mountains at approximately 10:20 a.m. on Tuesday, rapidly advancing toward the Pacific Palisades community. This created significant disruption as residents faced gridlocked streets while trying to evacuate.
Images from wildfire monitoring cameras depicted the fire-threatening hillside homes. The situation posed a serious risk to the Palisades community, with strong winds propelling the fire’s relentless march toward the Pacific Ocean.
At 11:52 a.m., the Los Angeles County Fire Department issued evacuation orders through the federal Wireless Emergency Alert System.
Officials advised those needing additional time to evacuate, as well as individuals with pets and livestock, to leave immediately—even if only under evacuation warnings.
Tribune Online learnt that the fire was driven by intense wind gusts of about 60 mph, with predictions of even stronger winds through Wednesday morning, potentially exceeding 100 mph in certain mountain regions.
Initially estimated at 200 acres, the fire is anticipated to grow rapidly in size.
While the cause of the fire remains unknown, the absence of lightning in the area suggests it is unlikely to have been a natural occurrence.
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