Los Angeles wildfire prompts evacuations amid extreme winds

8/1/2025 7:05

A wildfire burned about 200 acres (80 hectares) and threatened homes in an upscale section of Los Angeles on Tuesday, forcing evacuations after

officials had already warned of extreme fire danger from dry, powerful winds.



The Pacific Palisades fire between Santa Monica and Malibu led the Los Angeles Fire Department to issue a mandatory evacuation order for a large area from the hills of Topanga Canyon down to the coastline.



Huge billows of smoke could be seen blowing from the hills from miles (km) away as flames encroached on nearby homes. The fire was fueled by Santa Ana winds that blow warm and dry winds from the inland deserts toward the coast.



"Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW," read one notice posted by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).



Some evacuees walked away from the fire, while others got stuck in traffic in their cars.