Most evacuation orders lifted for Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills
The majority of evacuation orders for the Hollywood Hills Sunset Fire have been lifted Thursday after water-dropping aircraft slowed the fire's advance overnight.
The Sunset Fire was first reported just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 2300 block of N. Solar Drive, near Wattles Park, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. As of 6:15 p.m., firefighters said the fire had burned just over 40 acres of vegetation. By the following morning, the blaze had scorched 60 acres, with containment still at zero percent.
SkyCal was overhead Wednesday night as the massive flames tore through brush in the area. Multiple water-dropping helicopters could be seen near the spot of the fire while several ground crews with both LAFD and Los Angeles County Fire worked below.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued Wednesday for a sprawling area between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and the 101 Freeway, from Mulholland Drive on the north to Hollywood Boulevard on the south.
Thursday morning, evacuation orders remain only in place for the area North of Franklin Ave from Camino Palmero Street to North Sierra Bonita Avenue. CAL Fire said this order was still in place at the area remains closed through Friday morning as crews manage possible flare-ups within the vegetation of the area.
Evacuation orders
Just after 6 p.m. Wednesday LAFD had issued mandatory evacuation orders for Laurel Canyon Blvd (on the west) to Mulholland Dr (on the north) to 101 Freeway (on the east) down to Hollywood Blvd (on the south).
Thursday morning, all evacuation orders were lifted except for the area North of Franklin Ave from Camino Palmero Street to North Sierra Bonita Avenue.
An evacuation center is at the Pan Pacific Recreation Center at 7600 Beverly Boulevard.
LAPD deployed officers to help direct traffic caused by the evacuations.
Despite multiple warnings from local law enforcement in recent days, KCAL News captured footage of at least one person who was detained outside one home in the area on suspicion of looting. Officials have advised anyone seeking to take advantage of the tragedy at hand to reconsider or face adequate consequences.
Fires burning across Los Angeles County
This is just one of several large fires currently raging within Los Angeles County, which have combined to torch tens of thousands of acres and destroy thousands of structures.
Farther west in the Pacific Palisades, more than 15,000 acres and neighborhoods worth of homes have been destroyed by the massive Palisades Fire, while in eastern Los Angeles County, the Eaton Fire left five people dead and razed hundreds of buildings. A third fire, the Hurst Fire, has burned more than 700 acres in the San Fernando Valley and forced thousands of residents to evacuate.
Investigators have not revealed details on suspected causes for any of the fires.
Southern California is currently in the midst of one of the worst and most powerful windstorms to hit the region in the last decade, according to the National Weather Service. Some areas have been battered by winds reaching up to 80 mph, which has fueled each of the fire's rapid growths and the erratic behavior of flames.
RELATED: How to help those affected by wildfires in LA County | KCAL Cares
This is a developing story. Check back for details.
