A bushfire spanning 200 acres is currently raging in Los Angeles while Southern California endures a severe windstorm on Tuesday.

Evacuation alerts have been issued for the Pacific Palisades area, where several homes are in immediate danger, according to officials from the Los Angeles Fire Department. A mandatory evacuation has been declared for the zone between Piedra Morada Drive and Pacific Coast Highway due to life-threatening hazards.

The Palisades Fire was detected around 11 a.m. local time, and its cause is currently being investigated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Cal Fire has declared a red flag warning for the area, indicating it is at high risk for severe wildfires due to strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and extremely dry vegetation. Firefighting units and resources from both the city and county of Los Angeles have been dispatched to the area.

The department is advising residents in Southern California to be ready to evacuate if needed and to report any suspicious activity to aid in the prevention of arson.

“CAL FIRE has bolstered staffing and positioned resources to respond effectively, but your attentiveness is vital in preventing additional fires,” the department cautioned.

Evacuation Notices for Palisades Fire

Evacuation notices have been issued for parts of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood. An interactive map showing evacuation orders and alerts related to the Palisades Fire is available on the Cal Fire website.

Severe Windstorm Warning Until Wednesday

The National Weather Service had a warning issued on Monday regarding a “life-threatening, destructive (and) widespread windstorm” affecting California until Wednesday.

“A severe, destructive, widespread windstorm is forecasted from Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning,” the NWS stated. “Strong damaging winds are predicted across the majority of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Areas that typically experience low winds will also be impacted.”

Wind gusts could reach up to 80 mph, creating “extreme” wildfire risk for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including regions still recovering from last month’s Franklin Fire, which consumed over 3,000 acres in Malibu.

Locations facing the “greatest concern and most damaging winds” include:

• Pasadena
• Burbank
• San Fernando
• Hollywood
• Beverly Hills
• Simi Valley
• Sylmar
• Porter Ranch
• Altadena
• La Crescenta
• Malibu
• Santa Gabriel / Santa Susana / Santa Monica Mountains & Foothills
• San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys