Hollywood Hills wildfire forces evacuations in LA's celebrity hub: 100,000 residents on high alert

The Sunset Fire now endangers Hollywood landmarks like the Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre, causing evacuations.

A fierce wildfire has broken out in the Hollywood Hills, prompting a mass evacuation of Hollywood Boulevard and warnings for an additional 100,000 residents to be ready to leave their homes.

The rapidly spreading blaze, which began near Runyon Canyon, led to mandatory evacuation orders at 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday, already affecting at least 50 acres.

Courtesy: Getty Images

At least five lives have been lost, over 1,000 structures have been destroyed, and thousands of residents in Los Angeles have been left with nothing but debris and ashes.

Dubbed the Sunset Fire, the wildfire is now threatening Hollywood’s iconic landmarks, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theatre, and the Hollywood Bowl, forcing evacuations from the area.

Courtesy: Getty Images

The evacuation order stated: "A Mandatory Evacuation Order is now in place for Laurel Canyon Blvd (on the west) to Mulholland Dr (on the north) to 101 Freeway (on the east) down to Hollywood Blvd (on the south)."

Courtesy: MEGA

Witnesses described the flames as "exploding in size" due to the dense brush fueling the fire in the area.

Firefighters are working to contain the inferno by using aerial water drops to prevent it from spreading to nearby neighborhoods.

However, embers are being carried ahead of the main fire and igniting buildings, with videos showing at least one residential structure ablaze as of Wednesday evening.

Courtesy: Reuters

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has remained silent amid the crisis, facing criticism for cutting the LA Fire Department’s budget by $17.6 million in 2024.

ABC 7 reporter Chris Christi, speaking from a helicopter above the fire, described the scene: "Very concerning sight here. Just north of Hollywood Boulevard. This thing has exploded in size. This is all very thick fuel that is fueling this brush fire."

He added, "They have immediately called for the 20 closest trucks to come out here, but accessing this fire is going to require more than trucks. This thing is blowing up before our eyes. It is a very sizeable fire that is spreading rapidly."

Hollywood High School is serving as an evacuation center, but traffic from the Hills is at a standstill as residents try to escape. The situation has sparked concerns of chaos similar to the Pacific Palisades evacuation, where abandoned vehicles required bulldozers to clear the way.

Traffic is heavily congested on Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Studio City as thousands of residents comply with warnings about the fast-moving fire.