Travel will be difficult and dangerous in Southern California as firefighters race to contain multiple wildfires fueled by hurricane-force Santa Ana winds.
Los Angeles County officials said in a briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 8, that the fires killed at least two people and destroyed more than 1,000 buildings.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the fires collectively burned more than 26,000 acres and were 0% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Throughout Southern California, some highways were closed and dozens of flights were canceled because of fires and/or winds.
Weather forecasters expected winds as high as 100 mph could further fuel the fires. Meteorologist Ryan Maue said on X that winds were unlikely to ease until around noon Wednesday and described the emergency as “a hurricane of fire.”
Here’s what to know about flying and driving to California.
Driving to LA right now
The California Department of Transportation said the following roads were closed as of Wednesday because of the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires:
-
State Route 1, popularly known as the Pacific Coast Highway, was closed southbound at Las Flores Canyon Road and Malibu Canyon Road in Malibu, and northbound at McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica.
-
Interstate 10 was closed westbound at Santa Monica, with traffic being diverted at Lincoln Boulevard.
-
State Route 27, or Topanga Canyon Drive, is closed in both directions between the Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive.
-
State Route 2, or the Angeles Crest Scenic Byway, is closed eastbound about 2.2 miles north of Interstate 210 to 300 feet west of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, just outside Pasadena and Altadena.
-
San Gabriel Canyon Road in Azusa is closed as a preventive measure, though no fire has been reported in the area. Only residents are allowed to enter.
-
Truck lanes on Interstate 5 northbound are closed between Interstate 210 and State Route 14.
Los Angeles County officials urged people to stay off the roads unless necessary.
“Anywhere in this city, if you can stay off the roads, please do so,” Los Angeles City Council member Marqueece Harris-Dawson said during a briefing Wednesday. “I live in south LA a long way away from the fires. Visibility is less than one block because of the smoke.”
“So if there is not a good reason for you to be on the roads, we ask that you leave the roads open as possibly as you can to the public safety professionals who have to do their work and will lead us out of this crisis.”
Are flights canceled in Los Angeles?
Flight tracking website FlightAware showed dozens of cancellations at Southern California airports on Wednesday afternoon. Hollywood Burbank Airport had the most with 39 canceled flights; Ontario International Airport had 18, LAX Airport in Los Angeles had 11 and John Wayne Airport in Orange County had six.
At Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 11 of the 18 flights canceled Wednesday were Southern California flights affected by the wildfires. FlightAware showed five flights out of Burbank, three from Ontario, two from Orange County and one from LAX were canceled.
Staff at Hollywood Burbank Airport posted on social media that weather conditions were affecting flights at the airport. They urged flyers to check the status of their flight with their airline before coming to the airport.
Airline travel waivers for the LA fires
Airlines are offering travel waivers for passengers affected by the California wildfires.
American Airlines, which operates most of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport’s flight capacity, will waive change fees and fare differences for passengers booked on flights to or from Southern California from Jan. 8-10 who can travel by Jan. 15 and book in the same cabin with the original city pairs. Changes must be booked by Friday, Jan. 10.
Southwest Airlines will waive fare differences for travelers booked on flights to or from Southern California from Jan. 8-10 for travel within 14 days of their flight when rebooking with the original city pairs.
LA landmarks closed by wildfires
Numerous landmarks and tourist attractions throughout LA are closed because of the wildfires, according to the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board:
-
Universal Studios and Universal CityWalk.
-
Skirball Cultural Center.
-
Six Flags Magic Mountain.
-
Griffith Park, including the Hollywood sign, Lake Hollywood Park, Hollywood Reservoir, Runyon Canyon and the Los Angeles Zoo.
The tourism board released a statement on the wildfires: “We are heartbroken to see the overnight devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires. Our hearts are with the members of our community during this difficult time. We extend our deepest gratitude to the first responders who have worked tirelessly to combat the fires since they began on Tuesday.
“The fires remain active, and the safety of residents, visitors and first responders in the affected areas is our highest priority. We urge everyone to stay informed through the Los Angeles Fire Department for the latest evacuation updates and to follow all warnings and evacuation orders from first responders.”
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @salerno_phx.
Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: LA fires: Is it safe to go to Southern California now?