Deadly wildfires in Los Angeles have moved to Hollywood after earlier fires in the vicinity killed at least five people, damaged hundreds of houses, and strained firefighting and water supplies to their limits.
More than 100,000 people were advised to flee as dry, hurricane-force winds hampered firefighting efforts and fanned the fires, which had burnt thousands of acres (hectares) since Tuesday.
According to Fire Chief Kristin Crowley, a new fire broke out in the dry Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, forcing additional evacuations and bringing the total number of wildfires in Los Angeles County to at least six.
According to state officials, four of them were 0% contained, including two huge conflagrations on the city’s eastern and western edges that grew as night set on Wednesday.
In between, the so-called Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills scorched 50 acres (20 hectares) on Wednesday, Cal Fire said. Helicopter crews and ground teams appeared to be making progress impeding its rapid advance.
The L.A. Fire Department issued an evacuation order for people in an area within Hollywood Boulevard to the south, Mulholland Drive to the north, the 101 Freeway to the east and Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west – all iconic addresses for the entertainment industry.
Within that area is the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held.
Next week’s Oscar nominations announcement was already postponed by two days because of the fire, organizers said.
Though relatively small, the Sunset Fire burned just above Hollywood Boulevard and its Walk of Fame.
Firefighters from six other states were being rushed to California, while an additional 250 engine companies with 1,000 personnel were being moved from Northern California to Southern California, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told a press conference.
President Joe Biden, who declared the fires a national disaster, joined California Governor Gavin Newsom at a Santa Monica fire station to receive an update on firefighting activities.
In his final days as president before handing over to President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, Biden postponed an intended trip to Italy to focus on managing the federal response to the flames, according to the White House.
