Getty Fire Breaks Out Above Brentwood; Evacuation Warnings Issued; Smoke Visible Across West L.A.
A wildfire broke out in the hills above Brentwood, near the Getty Center in Los Angeles, on Wednesday afternoon, prompting evacuation warnings and drawing heavy firefighting resources including a helicopter drawing water from a nearby reservoir. Dubbed the Getty Fire, it quickly grew from five to twenty acres within about ninety minutes, sending smoke billowing over the 405 freeway and disrupting the West Los Angeles skyline, though officials said no structures were under threat and the fire was moving away from populated areas.
The blaze was first spotted shortly after 4pm near Getty Center Drive, with additional engines, water tenders and hand crews called in as it spread. Evacuation warnings covered two areas of Brentwood, and the Getty Center itself was closed with visitors evacuated, though its trains kept running to help move people out. The fire broke out amid near-100-degree temperatures and light westerly winds, despite the region having received significant rainfall over the preceding weekend. The Sepulveda Pass has a history of major fires, including a 2019 blaze of the same name that burned over 700 acres and the 2017 Skirball Fire.
- Wildfire erupts near LA's Getty Center, growing to 20 acres
- Evacuation warnings issued for two Brentwood areas
- No structures threatened; fire moving away from buildings