Navigating Safety: Your Essential Guide to Visiting Los Angeles Amidst the Pacific Palisades Wildfires

At 10:30 am local time on Tuesday, January 7, an inferno spanning 20 acres ignited in a residential area in northwest Los Angeles. Within a day, the blaze, accelerated by strong winds, has devastated nearly 3,000 acres. Two additional wildfires have also erupted, endangering thousands of residences and prompting the evacuation of 30,000 individuals. Although it has not yet reached the severity of the worst fires in LA history, if you have plans to travel, or are currently in the area, here’s what you should know.

Is it safe to visit Los Angeles?

Observers watching the smoke from the fire in Pacific Palisades

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Although there is no immediate danger in popular tourist areas such as Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, and Downtown LA, you should anticipate interruptions to stores, attractions, and other amenities, as well as deteriorating air quality. Santa Monica is presently at the boundary of the compulsory evacuation zone.

The Foreign Office advises that “rapidly spreading wildfires are currently active within Los Angeles County. It is essential to follow local media updates and adhere to the instructions from local officials.”

Where are the wildfires located?

Intense fires are currently raging in Eaton, situated north of Pasadena; Hurst, located northwest of San Fernando; and Pacific Palisades, an upscale, hilly suburb ten miles northwest of Downtown LA, adjacent to the sought-after tourist spot of Santa Monica. A fourth fire, covering 75 acres, has ignited in the Sepulveda Basin in the northwest of Los Angeles county.

How severe are these fires?

A residence is consumed by the Eaton fire

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The most significant wildfire Los Angeles has ever confronted was the La Tuna fire, which sparked just west of Pacific Palisades in September 2017 and incinerated nearly 5,000 acres. Currently, 1,000 acres are burning in Eaton, 100 acres in Hurst, and almost 3,000 acres in Pacific Palisades, with at least 30,000 individuals under mandatory evacuation mandates.

It’s the latter blaze that is causing the greatest alarm: as of this writing, numerous homes and businesses have perished; 13,000 structures remain at risk; the Los Angeles Fire Department reports “zero containment” and firefighters have voiced concerns that fire hydrants are depleting. This indicates that the fire is essentially beyond control.

Where are the evacuation regions?

A woman shifts her belongings off Pacific Coast Highway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard

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The mandatory evacuation area for Pacific Palisades extends from north of San Vicente Boulevard at the Santa Monica boundary all the way to Malibu in the west and Mulholland Road in the north. The Eaton evacuation zone includes an area north of Sierra Madre Boulevard, bordered by Arcadia Wilderness Park in the east and Altadena in the west. The significantly smaller Hurst evacuation region encompasses sparsely inhabited terrain to the north and west of Stetson Ranch Park. Disregarding evacuation orders is illegal.

What ignited the fires?

The fires have been exacerbated by powerful winds with gusts reaching up to 75 mph

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In every instance, the cause of the

The cause of the fires is still unclear, but their intensity can be attributed to the so-called Santa Ana winds: hot, arid air from the interior of California that rushes towards the coast through the valleys of the Santa Ana mountains, desiccating vegetation. Last evening, winds reached 75mph, with gusts of up to 100mph reported in Pasadena today.

Is Los Angeles airport operational?

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is situated ten miles southeast of Pacific Palisades, meaning that arrivals and departures are mostly unaffected. However, strong winds may lead to turbulent approaches to the airport.

Can I receive a refund if I opt not to travel due to wildfires?

Aircraft depart from Los Angeles International Airport while smoke billows from the Pacific Palisades blaze

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In the absence of explicit advisories against non-essential travel from the Foreign Office, standard booking conditions for package holidays are considered to apply — which typically means you cannot receive a refund in most circumstances. For flights, accommodations, short-term rentals like Airbnb, and vehicle hire, the general guideline is that if the service you reserved is still available and not directly impacted by the wildfires, you are not entitled to a refund.

Am I protected by my travel insurance?

In certain situations — generally with higher-tier policies — you might have coverage for cancellation, interruption, or disruption caused by wildfires. “This could provide protection if you cannot stay at your reserved accommodation due to fire,” states the insurance provider Avanti. “You would then have the option to relocate to different lodging to continue your holiday. The wildfires must have been unexpected at the time you purchased your policy or reserved your trip, depending on which occurred later.”

I’m currently vacationing in LA. What actions should I take?

If you find yourself in an area affected by wildfires, you ought to heed local guidance available on the alerts page of the Los Angeles Fire Department and the County of Los Angeles. Once you have reached a secure location, you should also reach out to your travel operator, airline, or travel agent. If your flight home is scheduled within the next 48 hours, you should get in touch with your airline — or download the airline application — to verify your flight status.

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