A wildfire encroaching the area has necessitated the suspension of operations at NASA’s primary facility for robotic planetary exploration.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains just north of Los Angeles, has been temporarily closed due to the nearby Eaton fire, which is currently raging.
“JPL is closed except for emergency staff. There has been no fire damage reported so far (some wind damage), but it is very close to the laboratory. Hundreds of JPL employees have been evacuated from their residences, and many have lost their homes. A special thanks to our emergency teams. Please keep us in your thoughts and stay safe,” JPL Director Laurie Leshin declared via X today (Jan. 8).
JPL is funded by the federal government but operated by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. The facility oversees many of NASA’s notable robotic missions, including the Perseverance and Curiosity Mars rovers and the $5 billion Europa Clipper, which was recently launched to investigate an intriguing ocean moon of Jupiter.
Related: Facts and details about NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The Eaton fire ignited on Tuesday evening (Jan. 7) near Altadena, just north of Pasadena. It has scorched at least 1,000 acres (400 hectares) thus far, according to CBS News, which referenced the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire).
The Eaton fire is one among several major fires ravaging the Los Angeles region, fueled and propagated by record-breaking winds. The largest and most devastating is the Palisades Fire, which is decimating the Pacific Palisades neighborhood on the western side of the city.
The wildfire closure isn’t the only challenge JPL has encountered recently. The lab underwent two rounds of layoffs last year, dismissing 8% of its workforce in February and another 5% in November due to financial constraints.