Several wildfires churned through the hillside communities on the west side of Los Angeles on Monday. It caused evacuations and power interruptions in some parts of California.
The Getty Fire broke out on the west side of the 405 Freeway after the Kincade Fire and the Tick Fire blazed over the weekend, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) said. LAFD Chief Ralph Terrazas verified that crews had identified the fire's point of origin near Sepulveda Boulevard.
Officials were also investigating at a broken tree branch with a burnt end surrounded with cones that were set aside on the ground along Sepulveda just south of the Skirball on the west side.
At least eight homes along North Tigerail Road seemed to be destroyed by the flames. At least five more were continuously burning along the 1100 block of North Tigertail.
The fire caused a traffic mess on the Southland's main highways on the 405 Freeway. In an announcement by the California Highway Patrol before 9 a.m., it is said that the southbound lanes of the freeway were closed from the 101 Freeway to Sunset Boulevard.
Evacuations were ordered in place for parts of the area. Among those evacuated was former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and LeBron James of Lakers. They later found accommodations that day.
Around 450 students in a private all-girls Catholic school near UCLA were among those who evacuated, a university tweeted.
Schwarzenegger shared on social media how he had to evacuate at 3 in the morning. He also urged everyone within the evacuation zone to move when told to do so to help the firefighters do their job. He commended the California firefighters for being "true action heroes" to the people and expressed his gratitude for their hard work.
Ava Rutter, a student at MSMU, posted video of the Getty Fire turning the sky to a hellish orange, as she proceeded to her car to evacuate.
A camera stationed at Los Angeles International Airport was able to capture the first flames from the hills at around 2 a.m. The 30-second time-lapse video (equivalent to about six hours of the flames' growth) of the fire's progress indicated the flames continue to spread around the hills and get brighter and larger as time goes on.
Video from ABC7
"We're going to be here for a long time" – LAFD Officials
The fire department said it is a "very dynamic fire" and advised the residents near the south of Sunset and 405 Freeway need to be alert and stay informed following LAFD.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said, an active arson investigation is underway as to the actual cause of the Getty Fire. He noted that it was unclear if someone intentionally set the fire.
Garcetti said the Getty Fire burned 618 acres and damaged eight structures. Six other establishment were partly damaged. The blaze was contained by 5 percent.
The Getty Fire is just among the many ongoing fires spreading across California amid a historic wind event. According to the LA County Fire Department, firefighters were battling a 10-acre wildfire called the Oak Fire in Calabasas as well.