US wildfire: 30,000 ordered to evacuate as blaze rages through Los Angeles hillsides – Times of India

US firefighters on Tuesday battled to contain a fast-moving wildfire tearing through the celebrity-studded hillsides of Los Angeles, as powerful winds swept across Southern California. The flames, visible for miles, prompted frantic evacuations, with residents abandoning cars and fleeing on foot as gridlocked roads became impassable.
According to LA Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley, the fire threatens nearly 26,000 people across more than 10,000 households and over 13,000 structures.
Witnesses reported distressing scenes of people fleeing with their children and pets, amid tears and screams.

The most severe winds were anticipated between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. Weather experts indicated the windstorm would continue for several days, with potential gusts reaching 100 mph (160 kph) in mountainous regions and foothills, particularly concerning in areas lacking recent rainfall. Approximately 500,000 utility customers faced possible power cuts to minimise fire risks from equipment.
A fire in western Los Angeles’s Pacific Palisades area quickly spread across nearly 2 square miles (just over 5 square kilometers), creating a prominent smoke column visible throughout the city. The flames were noticeable from Venice Beach, situated 6 miles (10 kilometers) away. Multiple fires were reported across the region.
Authorities closed portions of Interstate 10 and the Pacific Coast Highway to non-essential traffic to facilitate evacuations. However, other routes remained impassable, compelling some residents to leave their vehicles and await rescue.

Local resident Kelsey Trainor described how their neighbourhood’s sole access route became completely blocked. They experienced falling ash whilst fires burned alongside the road.
“We looked across and the fire had jumped from one side of the road to the other side of the road,” Trainor said.
“People were getting out of the cars with their dogs and babies and bags, they were crying and screaming. The road was just blocked, like full-on blocked for an hour,” he added.