William Freeman 2nd Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
William Freeman 2nd Vice Chair | DeKalb County Republican Party
A new fire has erupted in the Hollywood Hills near the iconic "Hollywood" sign, prompting mandatory evacuations for Runyon Canyon and surrounding areas. The blaze, referred to as "The Sunset Fire," reportedly appeared suddenly on Wednesday evening.
Local news outlets have described the fire as occurring "out of nowhere." Aerial footage shared by ABC7 shows a rapidly growing brushfire threatening dozens of homes amidst dense vegetation. Reporter Chris Cristi remarked that the situation is "blowing up before our eyes."
Michael Schneider, a Los Angeles resident, expressed his concern via social media: "Runyon Canyon is on fire. I've never seen anything like this. Born and raised in LA. All of West Hollywood and Hollywood is now under threat. Stay safe!!"
The fire adds to a series of ongoing wildfires across greater Los Angeles since Tuesday, all of which remain at zero percent containment. These include the Palisades Fire (15,832 acres), Eaton Fire (10,600 acres), Hurst Fire (505 acres), Lidia Fire (30% contained at 80 acres), and Woodley Fire (30 acres).
Criticism has been directed towards California's leadership regarding forest management practices and resource allocation for firefighting efforts. Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass have faced scrutiny over budget cuts and policy decisions related to water management and forest maintenance.
The situation continues to develop as firefighters work to contain the blazes.
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