Updated with the latest: The Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills burned 50 acres before fire crews appeared to get the upper hand. But, as in Los Angeles this week, as soon as the immediate danger passed, a fire broke out in the Nicholls Canyon area. It was quickly extinguished. Then, on the other side of Coldwater Canyon, several homes became completely submerged in Studio City.
The incident began at 3656 N Sunswept Dr, where a fire broke out in a four-story house caused by exposure and vegetation. Firefighters are in a defensive position against the fire unit with priority given to defending exposure points and preventing their spread into the brush. The multi-storey structure quickly collapsed in on itself. Other buildings on the hillside were also set on fire.
Shortly after this fire, there was another ignition about a quarter mile away in an area of brush along the same ridge line near Viewcrest Road.
Previously at 6:41: Los Angeles Fire Department crews respond to a new wildfire in the area of Solar and Astral roads in the Hollywood Hills, near Runyon Canyon. The blaze, dubbed the Sunset Fire, was initially located at 10 acres and doubled in size in less than an hour.
Conditions on the ground are north winds 8 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph early in the evening, decreasing to 6 to 9 mph after midnight, the National Weather Service said.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for an area bounded by Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Mulholland Drive to the north, Highway 101 to the east, and Hollywood Boulevard to the south. See the area in red below.
Evacuation warnings for the area — marked yellow — extended to Sunset Blvd. As far as Mullholland and Coldwater Canyon in the west. An LAFD spokesperson urged those in the evacuation warning area to exit before the full order is issued. Her advice: “Go south.”
This may be difficult to do since Hollywood Boulevard is now closed between La Brea Street and Crescent Heights Boulevard. Helicopter footage on KTLA5 showed a sea of red taillights on all the major north-south arteries running off the ridge.
Others were fleeing on foot and dragging their bags, KTLA5 reported.
The flames appeared to be moving south toward the densely populated suburb of Franklin Street.
The accident was not far from Hollywood landmarks such as the Dolby and TCL Chinese Theatres, the Hollywood Roosevelt, the Magic Castle, the Hollywood Bowl and the historic Whitley Heights.
On the plus side of the ledger, the fire is also very close to Hollywood Reservoir, which may facilitate quick aerial water drops. Up to that point, several water-dropping aircraft had been used in hopes of slowing the fire's progress.
Hollywood High School and the Pan Pacific Recreation Center are among the evacuation centers.
Authorities announced earlier today that Runyon Canyon will be closed due to wind and fire risks.
ABC7 was among the first local media outlets to pick up the news. There was no immediate news on how the fire broke out. This is the second fire in the hills in as many days. The first fire was quickly extinguished.
City News Service contributed to this report.
