Breaking News: Palisades Fire Expands to 200 Acres in Los Angeles Amid High Wind Warnings

A significant fire broke out in the Pacific Palisades, an upscale neighborhood in Los Angeles, on Tuesday morning, quickly spreading to 200 acres. This incident marks the initial substantial wildfire threat in Southern California this week, as the region faces a red flag warning due to hazardous winds and low humidity levels.

Key Developments:

• The Palisades Fire ignited around 11 a.m. local time and, as of 12:40 p.m. PST, the blaze has significantly grown. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has issued evacuation orders for residents of the Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas along the Pacific Coast Highway.
• The National Weather Service (NWS) has released a red flag warning for Southern California, running from Tuesday through Wednesday in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties. The warning extends until Thursday in San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, and San Diego counties.
• Wind gusts are expected to reach 50 to 80 mph in parts of Southern California, with mountainous and foothill regions potentially experiencing gusts up to 100 mph. There is an increased risk of downed trees and power lines, leading to potential widespread power outages.
• In the San Fernando Valley, residents are already facing sporadic power outages, with reports of several thousand customers without electricity as of 2:10 p.m. PST.

Impact on Travel:

As of Tuesday afternoon, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located approximately 19 miles from the fire, has not experienced significant flight delays or cancellations, according to FlightAware data.

Fire Outlook for Southern California:

The NWS has issued a fire outlook indicating elevated to critical fire weather conditions across much of Southern California. By Wednesday, the critical fire alert will increase by 278 square miles, covering approximately 5,035 square miles in total. An extreme fire weather alert has also been announced for areas including Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Altadena, Moorpark, and Santa Paula, spanning a 1,463-square-mile region from Wednesday to Thursday.

This story is evolving, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.