The extensive city known as Los Angeles is brimming with diversity, whether you’re ascending to the Griffith Observatory or strolling along Sunset Boulevard, indulging in delicacies at Grand Central Market or stepping back into the cinematic era at the Academy Museum.
Nevertheless, certain sections of California’s largest city are currently being ravaged by wildfires, which have spread across western LA due to powerful winds. Tens of thousands have been evacuated, but flights to LAX remain unaffected, so here is all that you need to know if you have scheduled a trip.
Is traveling to Los Angeles safe?
Many of LA’s most frequented tourist spots, such as Beverly Hills and Downtown LA, have not been impacted. However, wildfires are quickly advancing in other regions of northwest LA, fueled by strong, 60mph Santa Ana gusts, low humidity, and extremely arid vegetation. The initial cause is still being investigated, based on information from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
As of midday on Wednesday, January 8, 30,000 individuals have been evacuated, and 300,000 energy customers are presently without power. 1,400 firefighting crews have been deployed, and 19 school districts, in addition to the Malibu campus of Pepperdine University, are closed.
‘We are by no means out of danger,’ governor Gavin Newsom remarked on January 7, as reported by the Independent. ‘I witnessed firsthand the effect of these turbulent winds and the embers, as well as the number of structures that were damaged.’
What areas in LA are impacted by the wildfires?
There are various wildfires that emergency responders are attempting to control at this moment, the first of which was located in the Pacific Palisades. The Eaton fire (which expanded from 400 acres to over 1000 in under 24 hours) is affecting Altadena, Pasadena, Arcadia, and Sierra Madre, while the Hurst Fire (approximately 500 acres) is spreading through Sylmar, a suburban community in the San Fernando Valley.
A mandatory evacuation notice has been issued for the area between Piedra Morada Drive and the Pacific Coast Highway due to the conditions, and parts of Santa Monica are now facing evacuations as well.
The other concern is smoke. The New York Times hosts a page with several live maps of the fires, and smoke is expected to move all the way to southern LA.
Have any flights been cancelled?
LAX is located about 30 km south of Pacific Palisades, and although several highways and other significant routes have been closed (there’s more information on these below), including the Pacific Coast Highway between the McClure Tunnel and the Topanga Canyon, most flights arriving and departing have proceeded as usual, according to FlightRadar24.
What is the UK Foreign Office’s stance?
The FCDO has refreshed its travel advisory page for the USA with this message: ‘Rapidly spreading wildfires are presently active within Los Angeles County. You should stay updated through local media and adhere to the directions from local authorities. More comprehensive details can be found on CAL FIRE. If you require consular assistance, you should reach out at +1 310 789 0031 or visit Emergency help. In the UK, call +44 (0) 20 7008 5000.’
What are your rights if you’ve booked a trip to LA?
If you wish to cancel or modify your trip, you will need to reach out to your travel insurance provider directly to inquire about options – however, it is improbable that you’ll be eligible to receive a refund, as travel to LA has not been deemed inadvisable by the government.
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