A massive fire surged through Los Angeles causing traffic congestion and forcing the evacuation of 30,000 residents.
A rapidly spreading wildfire tore through a high-end area of Los Angeles destroying homes and causing gridlocked traffic, on Tuesday.
As per media reports, the fire consumed at least 2,921 acres in the Pacific Palisades region.
As the fire advanced, officials raised alarms about worsening the situation which could lead to further evacuations.
“We’re grateful that, so far, there have been no reported injuries,†Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley stated during a press briefing.
Authorities have taken all necessary measures to extinguish the fire. Firefighting aircraft are collecting seawater to douse the flames. Bulldozers are also clearing abandoned vehicles to make way for emergency crews.
The flames also reached the Getty Villa, a museum housing invaluable artworks. But timely measures ensured that its collection remained unharmed, according to museum officials.
However, traffic came to a standstill as residents attempted to escape the canyon using the sole road leading to the coast and the single coastal highway. Some resorted to fleeing on foot.
Before the fire erupted, the National Weather Service had issued its highest-level warning for extreme fire conditions across Los Angeles County, forecasting wind gusts between 50 to 80 mph. Low humidity and parched vegetation, due to a lack of rain, created what officials called “about as severe as fire weather can get.”
