Los Angeles Fire Department crews are responding to a new brush
fire in the area of Solar and Astral drives in the Hollywood Hills, in the
vicinity of Runyon Canyon.
According to Cal Fire, the blaze dubbed the Sunset Fire, was initially estimated at 10 acres, but it grew rapidly and doubled to at least 20 acres in about an hour. It currently sits at about 50 acres.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for a sprawling area between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and the Hollywood (101) Freeway, from Mulholland Drive on the north to Hollywood Boulevard on the south.
According to city officials, the Beverly Hills Fire Department is monitoring the fire. An evacuation warning is in effect for areas north of Sunset Boulevard and east of Coldwater Canyon Drive.
Margaret Stewart of L.A. City Fire told KNX News the fire was so aggressive there was no lag time between the fire's announcement and evacuation orders.
"Get in your vehicles and get out of the area now," she said, warning it would likely make its way to the very populated base of the canyon.
An evacuation center was established at Pan Pacific Recreation Center, 7600 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles Fire Department crews are requesting the closure of Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Crescent Heights Boulevard as crews battle the fire.
At 7:45 PM L.A. Mayor Karen Bass posted on X that her office would deploy LAPD officers to help alleviate evacuation traffic. "We are working urgently to close roads, redirect traffic, and expand access for LAFD vehicles to respond to the growing fire," said Bass.
There was no immediate word on how the fire started.
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