Wildfire burns Los Angeles enclave known for its beaches and celebrity charm – The Denver Post

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bordered to the south by a 3-mile stretch of Pacific beach and to the north by craggy cliffs and deep, verdant canyons, the seaside enclave of Pacific Palisades has long been a celebrity haven and magnet for those who are attracted. on nature’s doorstep, not far from the downtown Los Angeles skyline.

Revered in songs and the backdrop to a long list of films and television shows, its famous waves were celebrated by the Beach Boys in “Surfin’ USA.” Comedian Jerry Lewis lived there and was once an honorary mayor, and the eponymous television series “Pacific Palisades” was produced by Aaron Spelling.

Bounded by Malibu to the west and Santa Monica to the southeast, the neighborhood of 23,000 residents within sprawling Los Angeles may not be as well-known as its neighbors, but it has a rich and storied history. of celebrities that followed its founding in the early 1920s.

A massive coastal wildfire grabbed headlines Tuesday as firefighters sought to contain the spreading flames amid an intensifying windstorm and thousands of residents fled for safety . Smoke from the fire was visible for miles along the coastline.

Actor James Woods was among those who posted a video of flames burning on a hillside near his home. “Standing in my driveway, getting ready to evacuate,” Woods said in the short clip on the social platform X.

Actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in Pacific Palisades, urged people who abandoned their cars to leave their keys behind so they could be moved to make way for fire trucks. “It’s not a parking lot,” Guttenberg told KTLA.

Imagined a century ago as a religious commune, the narrow, winding roads of Pacific Palisades are today lined with homes clinging to the hills overlooking the ocean. The median listing price is $4.6 million, with an eight-bedroom estate valued at nearly $40 million, according to the website Realtor.com.

The community is also known for its walkable, small-town-like shopping district, which attracts visitors with its farmers’ market and trendy restaurants and boutiques. One of its most popular attractions is the Getty Villa, a branch of the famous J. Paul Getty Museum devoted to Greek and Roman antiquities.

Originally published: January 7, 2025 at 5:38 p.m. MST