Hurricane-force winds ripped across the area Tuesday, causing a fierce wildfire in a Los Angeles suburb to burn buildings and cause hurried evacuations.
Fearful people fled on foot from the 1,260-acre (510-hectare) fire that was consuming a neighborhood full of multi-million dollar mansions in the Santa Monica Mountains, leaving their cars on one of the few roads leading into and out of the affluent Pacific Palisades area.
Numerous cars, including pricey brands like Mercedes, Teslas, and BMWs, were pushed to one side by firefighters using bulldozers, leaving them crushed and with their alarms going off.
Despite the hectic evacuation, there were no initial reports of any fatalities or injuries, according to Kristin Crowley, chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
While personnel labored in steep terrain to remove vegetation and build firebreaks, hundreds of firemen flooded the area, tackling the fire from both the ground and the air.
The rapidly expanding flames, which leveled several homes as they jumped great distances, forced about 30,000 people to flee.
“We are not out of danger,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, at an afternoon press conference, adding that the winds are expected to pick up.
According to the White House, US President Joe Biden was informed about the incident and his team was contacting local authorities to propose government support.
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