“A ROUGH NIGHT”
The fire came as the area was being hit by seasonal Santa Ana winds that forecasters said could develop into the worst windstorm in a decade, with gusts of up to 160 kmh expected.
“This looks pretty, pretty concerning,” said meteorologist Daniel Swain.
“It’s going to be, I think, a rough night. And what’s going on now is only just the beginning, because weather conditions are going to get a lot worse.”
With a huge pall of smoke visible over the whole of Los Angeles, events throughout the area were cancelled, including a red-carpet premiere of Jennifer Lopez’s new film “Unstoppable.”
United States President Joe Biden – who was in Los Angeles for a planned announcement on new national monuments – was briefed on the incident, the White House said.
The president has approved federal aid to help California tackle the blaze, Governor Gavin Newsom said.
“No politics, no hand wringing, no kissing the feet. The president of the US said, ‘Yes. What else do you need?'” he told reporters.
Incoming president Donald Trump has previously threatened to withhold wildfire aid from Democrat-ruled California.
Wildfires are an expected part of life in the US West and play a vital role in the natural cycle.
But scientists say human-caused climate change is altering weather patterns.
Southern California had two decades of drought that were followed by two exceptionally wet years, which has left the countryside primed to burn.
