(Editor’s note: This story was written before noon–on October28–when the majority of Pacific Palisades was under mandatory evacuation or evacuation warning.)
The mandatory evacuation cuts through Huntington Palisades over to Temescal, which means Chautauqua may be closed at some point. Visit: lafd.org
Most of Pacific Palisades is under MANDATORY or RECOMMENDED Evacuations. If you are reading this, close your computer and evacuate.
The biggest issue with evacuating the Palisades is there are only three routes out: 1) Sunset Boulevard — east and west, 2) Chautauqua; and 3) Temescal Canyon Boulevard.
If you wait, you will be on clogged roads. This is a dangerous, fast-moving fire and you want to be clear of it!
At 2:45 a.m., I received the first alert, with a warning to prepare to evacuate. Shortly afterwards there was an alert that Mandeville Canyon was under mandatory evacuation.
Around 5 a.m., east of Temescal Canyon to Chautauqua went under mandatory evacuations.
We helped our neighbor, who is house-bound into a car, so that she could evacuate. Please check on your neighbors.
By 6 a.m. my dog and I were on PCH to Culver City. You can’t outrun a wind-driven fire.
I urge everyone to pack up and leave. Anyone who has hiked through the Santa Monica Mountains between Will Rogers and Temescal (and in the Highlands) knows the brush is exceptionally dry and has not burned in decades.
People in the Highlands, on Paseo Miramar and upper Marquez Knolls have one way out. Alphabet Street residents–if the fire comes over the hill, you have one exit route. Take your kids and pets and get out while you have time.
The radio is reporting that PCH is closed at Temescal. This is causing extra traffic because it forces extra cars up onto Sunset Boulevard and then they go through town and back down on Chautauqua.
It is reported that southbound 405 is closed and northbound is one lane.
Additionally, Palisades Rec Center, which is listed as an evacuation center it located right in the middle of mandatory evacuations. That makes no sense.
Thank you, Sue. And we’re thankful you got out fast. I see they’ve changed part of the “mandatory” to a “warning,” which includes the Palisades Rec Center. Good luck to us all.
Sue-you continue to be of admirable service to our community! Thank you and stay safe.
You are amazing, Sue.
In the midst of packing for evacuation because of a fire warning, you took time
to put together a newsletter and took care of those who read your precious newsletter. Thank you, dear Lady.
Sue – you are the best!
Bea
Thanks for publishing this account of the ways to prepare for evacuation, as well as the questionable decisions for rerouting traffic. I hope there is a new plan for redirecting traffic next time. It was quite disturbing to see cars at a standstill on Temescal going up towards Sunset. Maverick cars used the center lane to try to reach Sunset sooner, some went up the wrong way on Bowdoin. I imagine the situation at Chautauqua and that precarious intersection at PCH was even more chaotic. There’s got to be a better way.