A fire has erupted east of Interstate 405 near the Getty Center, identified as the Sepulveda fire, which has consumed approximately 10 acres as of 11:40 p.m. Wednesday. Described as “topography-driven,” the blaze is burning in Getty View Park, located in the western part of Bel-Air. Reports indicate that winds in the area are currently at about 10 miles per hour, potentially influencing the fire’s behavior.
Significantly, this fire is now the closest wildfire to the UCLA campus, which is approximately 1.8 miles away. As of 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the campus was not under any evacuation orders or warnings. However, as of 12:15 a.m. Thursday, it was noted that an evacuation warning now borders the campus, according to updates from Watch Duty and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
In context, the Palisades fire, which previously posed a threat to UCLA, has burned over 23,000 acres but is reported to be 70% contained. This earlier fire had prompted an evacuation warning adjacent to the campus, which was lifted as of Friday.
In the event of an evacuation order affecting UCLA, students are advised to head to either Tipuana apartments or Pauley Pavilion and await further instructions, as noted by a spokesperson from UCLA’s Office of Emergency Management.
As this situation continues to unfold, it is crucial for residents and the UCLA community to stay informed and alert to any developments. Continuous monitoring of the situation will provide necessary safety guidance as authorities respond to the fires in the region.