Palisades Fire in Los Angeles

Palisades Fire in Los Angeles is wreaking havoc while Thousands of residents in the western Los Angeles area were under mandatory evacuation orders. As a wind-driven wildfire exploded in size and swept through communities in the Pacific Palisades.

The Palisades Fire was first reported around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1100 block of North Piedra Morada Drive. By evening, it had exploded to more than 2,900 acres and was expected to keep spreading amid hurricane-force Santa Ana winds.

Palisades Fire in Los Angeles

There was no containment, according to CalFire.

There was no initial estimate for the number of structures damaged or destroyed. However, news footage showed dozens of homes and other structures ablaze.

Evacuations were ordered for the entire Palisades community down to the Pacific Ocean, according to CalFire.

During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, officials said more than 10,000 homes in Pacific Palisades and Malibu were affected by the evacuation order. Evacuation warnings also extended into areas of Santa Monica and Calabasas.

Hundreds of firefighters from across the region were battling the blaze. Local law enforcement assisted with traffic control and evacuations, with the Los Angeles Police Department providing more than 100 officers to assist their counterparts.

“So far, the major job for our people have been evacuation, traffic control, allowing ingress and egress to emergency vehicles,” LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said. “I would have an ask that if you would, please do everything you can to open up the streets so we can get the resources we need to be able to deal with this emergency.”