A massive California wildfire is consuming some of the most valuable property around Los Angeles.  The Pacific Palisades fire is expanding rapidly due to high winds and dry conditions.  Making matters worse, firefighters are having a problem with water shortages to fight the fire due to California environmental standards.

An ariel shot shows the extent of the fire last night, and the situation is rapidly worsening.  Firefighters are now focused on rescue efforts.

CALIFORNIA – A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles after a huge wildfire swept through hillsides dotted with celebrity homes.

The fire forced the evacuation of 30,000 people, some of whom abandoned their cars and fled on foot to safety.

Nearly 3,000 acres of the Pacific Palisades area between the coastal towns of Santa Monica and Malibu had burned by the Palisades Fire, officials said.  Fire officials said that several people were injured, some with burns to faces and hands.

A second blaze dubbed the Eaton Fire broke out some 30 miles inland near Pasadena and doubled in size to 400 acres in a few hours, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was in Southern California to attend the naming of a national monument by US President Joe Biden, made a detour to the area to see “first hand the impact of these swirling winds and the embers”.

[…] Witnesses reported a number of homes on fire with flames nearly scorching their cars when people fled the hills of Topanga Canyon, as the fire spread from there down to the Pacific Ocean.

Firefighters in aircraft scooped water from the sea to drop it on the nearby flames. Flames engulfed homes and bulldozers cleared abandoned vehicles from roads so emergency vehicles could pass.

The fire burned some trees on the grounds of the Getty Villa, a museum loaded with priceless works of art, but the collection remained safe, the museum said.

Before the fire started, the National Weather Service had issued its highest alert for extreme fire conditions for much of Los Angeles County from Tuesday through Thursday, predicting wind gusts of 50 to 80 mph.

[…] Actor Steve Guttenberg told a local television station that friends of his were impeded from evacuating because others had abandoned their cars in the road.

“It’s really important for everybody to band together and don’t worry about your personal property. Just get out,” Guttenberg said. “Get your loved ones and get out. (read more)