LA fires. Photo Credit Shutterstock Toa55
A forest fire in the Palisades, LA has engulfed more than 2,900 acres since it began on Tuesday.
Fires have been raging in LA since 10.30am Tuesday, January 7 and officials have said they will get worse.
Los Angeles has declared a state of emergency with 30,000 people being asked to evacuate and some having to shelter on the beaches to avoid flames. Schools, homes and businesses have already been engulfed. Separate fires have also been reported in Sylmar, and Los Angeles County where the Eaton fire, has simultaneously ripped through 400 acres of land.
Palisades forest fires are set to affect 13,000 homes and schools
The flames which had originally only burnt for about 2 acres have been made much worse by tornado like winds that are storming through the LA area.
Wind gusts were recorded by the National Weather Service in Los Angeles as reaching 86mph in certain areas with those speeds set to grow over the next 24 hours. The winds have hindered efforts to get firefighting aircrafts in the air, these are usually employed alongside firefighters on the ground to help tame large fires. Firefighters have been battling the Pacific Palisades fire since yesterday. The blazes, which are currently engulfing schools and homes are set to affect 13,000 homes.
Full extent of injured from Palisades forest fires unknown
Burn victims have been reported although the full extent of affected people is not yet known. Many people have been forced to abandon cars near a coastal neighbourhood in Santa Monica and Malibu, which are also under evacuation. Traffic is causing severe problems for evacuation efforts and in places flames are jumping on to the highway.
Famous LA structures, in the path of the blaze are being destroyed. Amongst them The Pasadena Charter School famous for being the location of many films, like Carrie and Freaky Friday.
Keep updated on this event here.
