California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Tuesday as multiple devastating wildfires erupted across Southern California, forcing tens of thousands of residents to evacuate amid extreme Santa Ana wind conditions.
The Pacific Palisades fire, which began around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, rapidly expanded to over 2,900 acres by evening as one of the strongest Santa Ana wind events in a decade fueled its aggressive spread.
"This is a highly dangerous windstorm that's creating extreme fire risk," Governor Newsom stated during a Los Angeles press conference. "We're already seeing the destructive impacts with this fire in Pacific Palisades that grew rapidly in a matter of minutes."
The emergency declaration enables local, state and tribal agencies to receive 75% reimbursement for fire suppression costs through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants.
Two additional major fires broke out later Tuesday - the Eaton Canyon fire near Altadena which approached 400 acres, and the Hurst Fire in Sylmar exceeding 500 acres. The Hurst Fire alone prompted evacuation orders for over 44,000 residents.
President Biden pledged federal support, stating his administration would "do everything it can to support the response." FEMA approved assistance grants for all three fires.
The Los Angeles Fire Department called all off-duty firefighters to report their availability as crews battle the dangerous blazes. Officials warn the wind threat could persist through Thursday evening.
Residents in Southern California are urged to stay alert to weather reports and follow emergency guidance as firefighters work to contain the fires threatening communities across the region.