Wind-fueled fires force thousands to flee their homes in southern California
At least 30,000 residents were told to evacuate as fast-moving flames consumed the Palisades, Altadena and an area northwest of San Fernando. Authorities expect conditions to worsen due to tornado-like gusts
Strong winds and dry weather conditions are causing thousands of evacuations in Los Angeles County, where three fires are burning and expanding at great speed. The Palisades fire, located in an exclusive mountainous area located northwest of L.A., had burned more than 2,900 acres by the early hours of Wednesday and had forced at least 30,000 people to evacuate. Authorities in nearby Santa Monica also ordered residents in the northern part of the city to leave their homes. Meanwhile, the city of Los Angeles has declared an emergency as authorities warned that the blaze would in all likelihood continue to rage throughout Wednesday and that conditions could worsen due to “tornado-like winds.”
