A dangerous wildfire has torn through a Los Angeles suburb, levelling homes and forcing thousands of residents to flee. The blaze, which destroyed nearly 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) of land in the Pacific Palisades area, so far, is rapidly spreading.
News agency AFP reported that the hurricane-force winds are making the matter worse, sparking widespread panic and chaotic evacuations as the fire continues to rage.
The blaze further engulfed an area packed with multimillion-dollar homes in the Santa Monica Mountains where firefighters used bulldozers to move abandoned vehicles, including luxury models like BMWs, Teslas, and Mercedes, off the road.
Despite the frantic evacuations, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said there were no immediate reports of any deaths or injuries and over 30,000 people were ordered to evacuate the region.
US President Joe Biden, who was in Los Angeles for a planned announcement on new national monuments, was briefed on the incident, the White House said.
The president has approved federal aid to help California tackle the blaze, Governor Gavin Newsom said.
Incoming president Donald Trump has previously threatened to withhold wildfire aid from Democrat-run California.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, in a press briefing, noted that some schools were being relocated due to the spread of wildfire, BBC reported.
