Los Angeles Fire Department crews are responding to a new brush fire in the area of Solar and Astral drives in the Hollywood Hills, in the vicinity of Runyon Canyon. The blaze was mapped at 10 acres, with first responders requesting more aid.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for an area bounded by Laurel Canyon Boulevard on the west, Mulholland Drive on the north, the 101 Freeway on the east and Hollywood Boulevard on the south. See area in red below.
An LAFD spokesperson told KTLA5 that the department is developing additional evacuation warnings for the area. She urged those in the evacuation warning zone get out before the full order is issued. Her advice: “head south.”
The blaze is moving rapidly uphill and will likely be threatening structures within 5 or 10 minutes. The flames appeared to be moving south toward the heavily-populated environs of Franklin Avenue.
Watch on Deadline
New fire growing in #HollywoodHills – approximately 10 acres. Mandatory evacuations now in place for Laurel Canyon Blvd. Julia Deng overhead 🚁#SunsetFire #nbcla live on @NBCLA 📺 pic.twitter.com/6pfAu97REK — Katherine Picazo (@katnbcla) January 9, 2025
Of course, the incident is not far from Hollywood landmarks such as the Dolby and TCL Chinese Theaters, the Hollywood Roosevelt, the Magic Castle and the Hollywood Bowl.
Authorities announced earlier today that Runyon Canyon would be closed due the the winds and fire hazards.
ABC7 was among the first local outlets to pick up the news. There was no immediate word on how the fire started. It is the second blaze in the hills in as many days. The first fire was quickly stifled.
BREAKING NEWS: New fast-moving fire erupts in Hollywood Hills near Runyon Canyon https://t.co/8x00PmQimS pic.twitter.com/E15L00rsll — ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) January 9, 2025
NEW FIRE in Hollywood Hills pic.twitter.com/yPcqGEYEuN — Donna (@lavelamarie) January 9, 2025
City News Service contributed to this report.