LOS ANGELES (NW) — The Palisades Fire, which has already claimed the lives of at least five individuals, continues to spread eastward toward the 405 Freeway and the San Fernando Valley, forcing additional evacuation orders and warnings in neighborhoods such as Brentwood and Encino.
The Getty Center, an iconic cultural institution that narrowly escaped destruction in the 2019 Getty Fire, lies within one of the newly designated evacuation warning zones. The museum confirmed that it was adhering to the current evacuation order, closing its doors and leaving only emergency personnel on-site.
“The Getty Center is complying with the current evacuation order and is closed with only emergency staff on site,” the museum stated.
The Getty Villa, located in Pacific Palisades, had already closed on Tuesday as the fire broke out. According to J. Paul Getty Trust President Katherine Fleming, the museum’s proactive fire mitigation efforts, including extensive brush clearance and the installation of water storage systems, have significantly bolstered the Villa’s fire defenses.
“Fortunately, Getty had made extensive efforts to clear brush from the surrounding area as part of its fire mitigation efforts throughout the year,” Fleming said. “Additional fire prevention measures in place at the Villa include water storage on-site.”
As of Friday, the Palisades Fire had scorched 21,317 acres, with firefighters managing to contain just 8% of the blaze.
The wildfire has devastated communities along the Pacific Coast Highway, reducing thousands of homes, businesses, and beloved landmarks to ash. The destruction is extensive, with entire neighborhoods left in ruins. Authorities have warned that the death toll could rise further as recovery teams continue to sift through the charred debris.
While the exact number of injuries remains unclear, authorities have confirmed that several people have been hurt in the fire’s wake.
With more than 10,000 structures reduced to rubble, the Palisades Fire ranks among the most destructive wildfires in California history. Since the state began officially tracking such disasters in 1932, the fire’s toll on life and property is poised to make it one of the most devastating on record, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
