Forest Fires In Los Angeles: Tens Of Thousands Of People Refuge, Vice President Kamala Harris's House Is In The Evacuation Zone

JAKARTA - A rapidly expanding forest fire in the elite region of Los Angeles, California, United States on Tuesday forced more than 30,000 people to be evacuated.

About 2,921 hectares (1,182 hectares) of Pacific Palisades between coastal cities of Santa Monica andnis have been burned by the Palisades Fire, officials said, after they had warned of the dangers of extreme fires due to strong winds that had come after prolonged dry weather.

A firefighter told local KTLA television station that a number of people were injured, some of whom suffered burns to the face and hands. A female firefighter also suffered a head injury.

Witnesses reported a number of houses were burned with flames that nearly scorched their cars as people fled the Topanga levy hills, as fires spread from there to the Pacific Ocean.

Local media reported the fire had spread north, setting fire to houses nearwastina.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley previously said in a press conference that more than 25,000 people in 10,000 homes were threatened.

The fire scorched several trees in Getty Villa's yard, a museum filled with priceless works of art, but the collection remains largely safe due to preventive measures to trim the bushes around the building, the museum said.

With only one main road leading from the canyon to the beach, and only one coastal highway heading to a safe place, traffic is jammed, causing people to run on foot.

PALISADES FIRE | 2921 acres 0% containment. Extreme fire behavior, short & long-range spotting, continues to challenge firefighting efforts for the Palisades Fire. Winds gusts up to 60 MPH are expected to continue through Thursday. pic.twitter.com/QHKIh6u6FD

— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) January 8, 2025

PALISADES FIRE 2921 accres 0% confidence. Extreme fire behavior, short & long-range spotting, continuations to challenge firefighting efforts for the Palisaades Fire. Winds chests up to 60 MPH are expected to continue through Thursday. pic.twitter.com/QHKIh6u6FD

Prior to the fire, the National Weather Agency issued the highest warning for extreme fire conditions in most areas of Los Angeles County from Tuesday to Thursday, with an estimated gust of winds traveling from 50 to 80 mph (80 to 130 kph).

Governor Gavin Newsom, who declared a state of emergency, said the state placed firefighters, trucks and aircraft elsewhere in Southern California due to fire hazards in the wider area, he added.

Meanwhile, the home of US Vice President Kamala Harris in Los Angeles has been placed in the evacuation zone due to forest fires in California, as quoted by TASS from NBC News.

The environment around the house of Vice President Harris was placed in the evacuation zone because the fire was getting worse due to strong winds.

Vice President Harris himself is currently in Washington. The 350 square meter house, located in the Los Angeles upper class environment, was purchased in 2012 by Kamala Harris's husband, Douglas Emhoff's lawyer.

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow and basketball star LeBron James are neighbors. The four-room house, which is equipped with a swimming pool, is only 10 minutes away from the Getty Museum.

Strong winds also changed President Joe Biden's travel plans, stopping Air Force One in Los Angeles. Originally, he would make a short flight into the interior to the Coachella Valley to attend a ceremony to make two new national monuments in California, but the event was rescheduled at the White House.

"I have offered whatever federal assistance is needed to help extinguish the dire Pacific Palisaades fire," President Biden said in a statement.

The federal grant has been approved to help compensate the State of California for its response to the fire, President Biden said.