A wind-driven wildfire has spread across California, leading authorities to order the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people as the rapidly growing blaze burned across more than 40,000 acres.
At least 24 people have been killed amid the devastating wildfires that left thousands of structures burned down including in the Pacific Palisades, known for being the home of several A-listers.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has described the Los Angeles wildfires as the worst disaster in US history, while Los Angeles fire personnel continue to try and fend off the blaze, deploying more water trucks to help.
Several fires across Los Angeles County have erupted, including the Pacific Palisades fire which has only been contained by 14 per cent and has burned across more than 23,000 acres. The Eaton Fire has scorched some 14,000 acres in Altadena and Pasadena and is 27 per cent contained.
Pacific Palisades is a residential community and attracts very few tourists, however, the area it sits in, Los Angeles County, is popular with visitors who are heading to the sandy shores of Venice Beach, exploring Hollywood as well as touring studios and museums among many other attractions.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) sits relatively close to the Palisades fires, but so far minimal travel disruption has occurred.
Several airlines have offered temporary fee waivers to travellers who had upcoming travel plans to the area.
Meanwhile, several roads including parts of the Pacific Coast Highway have been closed as of early Wednesday morning.
Has the fire impacted flights at LAX?
LAX is around 19 miles south of Pacific Palisades, but the majority of arrivals and departures have continued as normal amid the wildfires.
As of Monday morning, the majority of flights scheduled to arrive have done so on time over the past few days, with the exception of a couple of flights that had been delayed and a handful of cancellations, data from FlightRadar24 shows.
On Sunday, there were very few cancelled departures, yet many flights were running slightly delayed, especially moving into the evening.
Passengers should check with their airline to confirm their flight details ahead of travelling.
Has the fire impacted other travel?
Large roads such as the Pacific Coast Highway have been out of action in various places for several days since the wildfires started.
Caltrans, California’s Department of Transportation, has announced several road closures due to the wildfires throughout region.
Closures as of 9pm Sunday evening local time:
- Interstate 405 (I-405)’s Getty Centre Drive off-ramps are closed in both directions.
- I-405 southbound Skirball Center Drive off-ramp closed and southbound Sunset Boulevard off-ramp closed.
- The Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) is closed southbound at Sweetwater Canyon Drive and northbound at McClure Tunnel.
- I-10 closed westbound at Lincoln Boulevard and the westbound 4th and 5th Street on-ramps closed.
- Topanga Canyon Boulevard (State Route 27) is fully closed between Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive.
- I-210 eastbound and westbound Arroyo Boulevard off-ramps closed.
- San Gabriel Canyon Road (State Route 39) is closed as a preventative measure north of Azusa, only residents are allowed to enter.
Authorities have warned that due to power outages, some traffic lights may be malfunctioning.
“When traffic signals are dark or blinking red, treat them as a stop sign. Due to heavy winds and power outages, some highway and on and off-ramp locations may have signals that are temporarily out. Slow down if power is out in your area,” Caltrans said.
“Be prepared to take alternative routes to avoid road closures and come to a complete stop when lights are flashing red or malfunctioning during the Palisades Fire,” the City of Malibu added.
Governor Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that Caltrans will be replenishing batteries that are servicing 40 traffic signals affected by power outages.
What attractions have re-opened and what remains closed?
After two days of closure, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk reopened on 10 January.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to those impacted by the recent and ongoing fires, as well as our deepest appreciation to the first responders for their valiant and ongoing efforts during this difficult time,” the park said in an update to guests.
The Getty Center and The Getty Villa had a preliminary date to reopen early this week, but in an update, it said that both the Center and the Villa will be closed through to Thursday, 16 January.
Fire reached the grounds of The Getty Villa Museum, located in the Palisades, on Tuesday and burned some vegetation, but officials have said that the structure and its collections have remained safe.
The Angeles National Forest has been temporarily closed for “public safety and the protection of natural resources” until Wednesday 15 January.
Government travel advice
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice for the USA, warning travellers of the fast-spreading wildfires that are currently active within Los Angeles County.
The FCDO wrote: “Monitor local media and follow the advice of the local authorities. More detailed information can be found on CAL FIRE.
“If you are in need of consular assistance, you should call +1 310 789 0031 or visit Emergency help. In the UK, call +44 (0) 20 7008 5000.”
Where are the fires?
The wildfires that have engulfed thousands of structures have spread around the affluent Pacific Palisades area in Los Angeles County.
The fires have spread across tens of thousands of acres, fanned by a windstorm known as the Santa Ana winds since it broke out.
The Palisades Fire has spread across over 23,700 acres at a 14 per cent containment; the Altadena and Pasadena-based Eaton Fire at over 14,000 acres with 33 per cent containment and the Hurst fire at 799 acres at 89 per cent containment.
The National Weather Service warned of a “particularly dangerous situation” on Sunday evening and, although peak winds will be weaker than last week, they will be “strong enough to potentially cause explosive fire growth”.
The weather agency anticipates gusts of up to 70mph in mountainous regions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Tens of thousands of homes and businesses have still been left without power as the fire continues to blaze across the Los Angeles region.
Can I cancel my holiday or flight and get a refund?
Flights
Several airlines that serve the Los Angeles area have waived fees for flight changes for those who had upcoming travel plans to the area.
Subject to different dates, terms and conditions and airports, American Airlines, Southwest, JetBlue and United are among the carriers that are offering various forms of fee waivers to those planning to travel to Los Angeles.
As for cancelled flights, Simon Calder, travel correspondent at The Independent, says: “Whatever the cause of a cancellation, and regardless of the amount of notice that is given, you can insist upon replacement transport: the airline must get you to your destination as soon as possible if that is what you want.”
“The UK Civil Aviation Authority says that means if a flight is available on the original day of travel, the passenger must be booked on it – even if it is on a rival carrier.”
However, cash compensation may not be available, as the airlines may claim the wildfires come under ‘extraordinary circumstances’, which means that the cancellation was not the airline’s fault.
The rules are similar in the US: If your flight is cancelled, most airlines will rebook you on their first flight to your destination on which space is available, at no additional charge.
Regardless of the reason, if an airline cancels a flight it is required to provide a refund if the passenger chooses not to travel, including those with non-refundable tickets, or if the passenger chooses not to accept the alternative offered, such as rebooking on another flight.
Holidays
As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to the USA, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund.
The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you’re looking to postpone.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim travel insurance due to safety concerns unless the Foreign Office advice changes.
In terms of travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calder’s podcast
