As wildfires rage across Los Angeles, new evacuation warnings issued on Saturday afternoon have now included the Getty Center, which hosts one of the city’s most valuable art collections.

The evacuation alert pertains to Brentwood, a neighborhood located west of the 405 freeway, following previous threats to the museum’s other site, the Getty Villa. Both the Getty Center and Getty Villa will remain closed until at least January 16.

By Saturday morning, the center was adhering to the evacuation orders and was closed, with only emergency staff present, as confirmed by museum representative Alexandria Sivak to the YSL News Network.

Here’s what you need to know about the Getty Center amidst the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

What is the Getty Center?

The Getty Center, which opened in 1997, encompasses multiple components of the Getty Trust, featuring a museum, library, and extensive gardens.

The museum boasts a vast collection of European art, including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and rotating exhibitions. A notable piece in its collection is Vincent Van Gogh’s “Irises.”

Is the Getty Center fireproof?

Created with wildfire safety in mind, the Getty Center has previously referred to itself as “the safest place for art during a fire.”

During a large fire that occurred near the center in October 2019, the museum confirmed that evacuation of its artwork was unnecessary due to its safety protocols.

“Our building is very substantial,” said Mike Rogers, the museum’s director of facilities, in a 2019 interview. “It was meticulously designed and constructed, and is maintained with great care. I take great pride in that, as well as in our dedicated team. We feel very secure here.”

The center’s structures are made from fire-resistant materials including stone, concrete, and protected steel, with roofs featuring fire-resistant stone aggregate. Additionally, the buildings include fire separations, allowing doors to isolate certain areas of the campus during a fire emergency.

On the premises, drought-tolerant plants and an extensive irrigation system provide further protection against wildfires.

Is the Getty Villa secure from the fires?

As of January 10, the Getty Villa’s staff, artwork, and buildings were reported to be secure from the ongoing fires, according to an update on the museum’s Instagram account.

While fires impacted the vegetation on the property, museum officials stated they have implemented comprehensive “fire mitigation efforts” to protect the collection. The villa is located along the Pacific Coast Highway in the Pacific Palisades region, which has experienced severe wildfire activity.

“We are genuinely worried for our neighbors living in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and nearby locations,” expressed Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, which manages the museum, in a statement made earlier this week. “Fortunately, Getty had undertaken significant efforts to remove hazardous brush from the surrounding areas throughout the year as part of its fire prevention initiatives.”