The Getty fire burning near the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles County reached full containment, according to local fire authorities. The brush fire ignited on a Wednesday afternoon, threatening homes, the Getty Center, and a university campus before crews halted its forward progress.
Timeline and Containment of the Getty Fire
The brush fire was reported around 4:30 p.m. near the Getty Center parking lot at 1200 Getty Center Drive, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Driven by heavy smoke and steep brush on the west side of the 405 Freeway, the blaze grew rapidly from 20 acres to approximately 25 acres within hours.
Ground crews and aerial firefighting teams deployed water drops to combat the flames. Forward progress was stopped shortly after 6 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Authorities subsequently brought the incident under full containment.
Evacuations and Campus Impacts
The fire prompted the Los Angeles Fire Department to issue evacuation warnings for two zones near the Getty Center. According to department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz, the warning area was bounded by Promontory Road to the north, Sunset Boulevard to the south, the 405 Freeway to the east, and Bundy Drive to the west. These warnings encompassed the Getty Center and Mount Saint Mary’s University.
Debbie Ream, a spokesperson for Mount Saint Mary’s University, stated that the school’s Chalon undergraduate campus canceled in-person classes around 5:30 p.m. The approximately 400 students living on campus were told to prepare to shelter in place, while visitors and commuters were encouraged to leave the area. Authorities lifted all evacuation warnings around 8:40 p.m. as conditions improved.
Museum Closures and Regional Weather Conditions
The Getty Center closed on the day of the fire and remained closed the following day to provide firefighters with easier access to the area, according to an announcement on X. The Getty Villa, located about 10 miles away in the Pacific Palisades, remained unaffected and operated during normal hours.
The fire coincided with extreme heat across Southern California. The National Weather Service’s Oxnard office reported that temperatures climbed past 100 degrees, with high humidity making conditions feel 5 to 10 degrees hotter. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated on X that she coordinated with fire personnel and that the Los Angeles Police Department stood ready to assist with evacuations if necessary. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported and no homes were damaged.
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