Harris's California neighborhood ordered to evacuate as wildfires blaze through area

Vice President Harris's neighborhood in Los Angeles was ordered to evacuate Tuesday night as wildfires blazed through the area, her spokesperson said Wednesday.

"Last night, the Vice President's neighborhood in Los Angeles was put under an evacuation order. No one was in her home at the time," spokesperson Ernie Apreza said on social platform X.

"She and the Second Gentleman are praying for the safety of their fellow Californians, the heroic first responders, and Secret Service personnel," Apreza added.

Harris, a lifelong Californian who served as the state’s U.S. senator and attorney general, said in a statement Tuesday that she was briefed about the state of the wildfires and would continue to be updated regularly “about these damaging wildfires and the coordinated efforts to contain them.”

“I am also urging residents in the affected areas to listen to local officials, remain vigilant, and evacuate immediately if told to do so,” Harris continued in her statement Tuesday evening.

Harris said she and President Biden “are committed to ensuring that no community has to respond to this disaster alone” and that they have mobilized federal resources “to help suppress the fires, provide overhead support, and begin assisting those impacted.”

She said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has already approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to reimburse the state for some of the firefighting costs.

“As a proud daughter of California, I know the damage that wildfires have on our neighbors and communities. I also know that the impact is often felt long after the fire is contained. As we respond and as Californians recover, I will ensure that our administration is in constant contact with state and local officials,” Harris added.

Harris’s statement comes as the Pacific Palisades wildfire and three other fires burn through the area surrounding Los Angeles, prompting California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to declare a state of emergency. The fires have also forced some residents to evacuate and caused significant damage to structures in the area.

The Palisades fire, which started as a brush fire at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time Tuesday, has grown to almost 3,000 acres with zero containment, according to Cal Fire.

The second fire, the Eaton fire, also started Tuesday near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in Pasadena. The Hurst fire, the third fire, started burning Tuesday night, spreading rapidly with high winds and burning at least 500 acres. A fourth one, the Tyler fire, began Wednesday morning in Coachella, Riverside County.

Topics

Here's how to help wildfire victims as California blazes explode in size

Strong Santa Ana winds are fueling multiple wildfires across Southern California, forcing thousands of residents to flee from their homes.
ABC News - 2h
California official on evacuation orders as Sunset Fire burns in Hollywood Hills

L.A. City Councilmember Nithya Raman told CBS News Los Angeles the latest updates on the Sunset Fire burning in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening. She urged anyone in the evacuation order ...
CBS News - 3h
California wildfires maps show evacuations, power outages, air quality

Wildfires are tearing through thousands of acres in Los Angeles County in California, as strong Santa Ana winds stoke the blazes.
ABC News - 6h
California wildfires: deadly blazes continue to grow as officials warn of shortage of firefighters – latest updates

Tens of thousands of homes affected by ‘unprecedented’ fires in Los Angeles area; aircraft return to dropping water after winds grounded them. Visual explainer: why are the LA wildfires so ...
The Guardian - 9h
Biden briefed on California wildfires as blazes grow

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley and other officials updated President Biden on the catastrophic wildfires spreading in Los Angeles County. CBS News chief White House correspondent ...
CBS News - 11h
Los Angeles resident evacuated as his neighborhood burned

Many Los Angeles residents are catching glimpses of homes in their community that burned down overnight as several fires continue to grow across the massive California county. CBS News Los Angeles ...
CBS News - 13h
Thousands ordered to evacuate as wildfires burn around Los Angeles

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has warned more than 10,000 homes are at risk as strong winds fuel devastating wildfires in Southern California. CBS News correspondents Danya Bacchus and ...
CBS News - 18h
California Fires: Thousands Face Evacuation Across LA Area

Three fires prompted fire officials to issue a swath of evacuation orders and warnings for some of the city’s most heavily residential areas.
The New York Times - 19h
Evacuations ordered as fast-moving Pacific Palisades blaze erupts in Southern California

Residents are being told to “evacuate now” due to a rapidly spreading wildfire in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.
The Hill - 1d