Updated January 11, 2025 at 14:21 PM ET
This is a developing story. For the latest local updates, head to LAist.com. Also, sign up for NPR's breaking news alerts.
Loading...
Southern California is fighting multiple major wildfires, exacerbated by hurricane-strength winds that have resulted in red flag warnings and evacuation orders in multiple zones. The current fires include the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades, the Eaton Fire near Pasadena, the Hurst Fire in the Sylmar area and the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills and Ventura County.
➡️ Beloved places we've lost: Tracking LA fire destruction
These offshoots of Los Angeles are home to many cultural institutions renowned for everything from iconic Hollywood nightlife to groundbreaking scientific research.
Here's where several of them stand as of Wednesday afternoon:
Will Rogers State Historic Park
The former home of actor, radio personality and humorist Will Rogers, a 186-acre ranch which was on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, was gutted by the Palisades fire.
People on social media posted photos and video of the site, which showed only chimneys poking up through rubble.
The estate and historic park was home to many Western artifacts, as well as objects from Will Rogers' daily life. In the 1930s, he was Hollywood's highest-paid film star. His widow Betty Rogers had donated the house and stables to Californian in 1944.
According to the California State Parks website, horses and some of the cultural artifacts at the Will Rogers State Historic Park were safely evacuated ahead of the fire.
Topanga State Park
Parts of the Topanga State Park — a national park located within the city of Los Angeles that is known for its scenic hiking and mountain bike trails — were also devastated by the Palisades fire. The historic Topanga Ranch Motel, which was once owned by newspaper publisher and politician William Randolph Hearst, was destroyed.
Sunset Boulevard
The West Hollywood strip known for its nightlife and restaurant scene was gridlocked Tuesday by Los Angeles residents fleeing the Palisades area. Officials told those on Sunset Boulevard to abandon their cars and walk to safety. The Los Angeles Fire Department later moved the abandoned vehicles to make way for firefighters. The stretch of Sunset Boulevard between San Vicente and Crescent Heights was closed, but appears to have reopened.
The Getty Villa and Getty Center
Some trees and vegetation were burned on the site of the Getty Villa, a Greco-Roman art museum on the Pacific Coast Highway in the Pacific Palisades. The museum reported that collections and staff were so far unharmed and that fire and smoke mitigation plans were in place. Both the Getty Villa and the Getty Center, which was evacuated on Friday, will remain closed until at least Thursday, Jan. 16. "The Getty Center is complying with the current evacuation order and is closed with only emergency staff on site," a Getty spokesperson told NPR on Saturday morning.
Palisades Charter High School
A filming location for popular shows and films such as Teen Wolf, Carrie and Freaky Friday, Palisades Charter High School has been severely damaged by the Palisades fire. Students and faculty are still on winter break, scheduled through Jan. 10. According to the high school's website, they will provide updates for students and families prior to the start of the spring semester.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a research hub for robotic space exploration, is included in the areas with evacuation orders due to the Eaton fire.
Universal Studios and CityWalk
Though not under mandatory evacuation, the Universal Studios theme park and the attached dining, shopping and entertainment plaza, Universal CityWalk, were closed "as a result of the extreme winds and fire conditions," the studios announced Wednesday morning. The website states the theme park and plaza have since reopened.
The Hammer Museum and the Fowler Museum at UCLA
The Hammer Museum at UCLA, a contemporary art museum, is also closed due to the nearby fires and severe weather warnings, as is the Fowler Museum, a museum on campus devoted primarily to art from Africa, the Pacific, Asia and and the Americas. Opening events for the Fowler's new exhibition about Native American fire traditions, which was originally scheduled to open Sunday, have been postponed. The University of California, Los Angeles campus, where the museums are located, has cancelled classes for undergraduates and moved graduate classes online as of Thursday morning.
The Rose Bowl
The Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena was being used as a large animal evacuation center after the Eaton Fire broke out, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, but is now a center for "emergency response efforts," according to the stadium's X account, as well as a location for firefighters to rest between shifts. The Rose Bowl Half Marathon and 5K, originally scheduled for Jan. 19, have been postponed.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens
The extensive collections in the library, museum, and gardens in San Marino, known as "The H," remain safe as of early Thursday morning. The campus remains closed at least through Tuesday, Jan. 14. A few trees were lost and uprooted in the area due to high winds and the property sustained minor damage from falling debris, the Huntington shared on Instagram Wednesday night.
Eames House
Located in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, the architectural landmark famously made with experimental industrial materials is at risk in the Palisades fire. The property, also known as Case Study House No. 8, posted an update to their Instagram stories Wednesday morning that the house remained unharmed.
Warner Bros.
The Warner Bros. Studio in Hollywood, which offers tours — including back lots and sets from beloved television shows — closed due to the fire conditions and strong winds. The studio's website says it will remain closed until at least Sunday, Jan. 12.
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, located in Griffith Park, closed to the public on Tuesday and remains closed until further notice.
Griffith Observatory
The popular scientific observatory and planetarium located at the top of the Hollywood Hills was closed Wednesday due to the wind and remains closed through at least Sunday, Jan. 12.
The Empire Polo Club
Home to the annual Coachella Music Festival, the Empire Polo Club in Indio has not reported any closures. The club is about seven miles away from the Tyler fire's starting point.
The Andrew McNally House
The Queen Anne mansion in Altadena built by the mapmaking tycoon who co-founded Rand-McNally in the late 1880s, burned to the ground in the Eaton Fire on Jan. 8. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Zane Grey Estate
The Mediterranean-style home in Altadena belonged to the great Western novelist Zane Grey. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and was also destroyed in the Eaton Fire.
Hollywood Landmarks
Hollywood Sign
Located in the Hollywood Hills, the iconic Hollywood sign remains closed as of Thursday morning, along with all of Griffith Park. The Hollywood Sign Trust's official Instagram account posted an update to their stories Wednesday night saying that the sign was not on fire.
Hollywood Bowl
Host to many live music performances since it opened in 1922, the amphitheater received evacuation orders Wednesday night. According to a post on their Instagram, all staff has evacuated the premises safely.
TCL Chinese Theatre and Dolby Theatre
The TCL Chinese Theatre, a movie palace more popularly called Grauman's Chinese Theatre, has hosted premiers and film festivals since it opened in 1927. The landmark was included in an evacuation zone Wednesday. The Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards are held, was also in that zone. Both theaters closed Wednesday night. There have been no reports of damage and the evacuation orders have been lifted.
Resources to stay safe
➡️ Trying to stay safe in a wildfire? There's an app that can help
➡️ LAist's very short guide to driving in high winds and fire danger
➡️ How to keep yourself safe from wildfire smoke
➡️ High winds and fires mean power outages. Here's how to prep
The California Newsroom is following the extreme weather from across the region. Click through to LAist's coverage for the latest.
Copyright 2025 NPR
