Five people have been killed in wildfires raging in the Los Angeles area and more than 137,000 people have been forced to evacuate.
At least five fires are still burning, with one in the Hollywood Hills area rapidly spreading. Firefighters told the BBC they have ‘zero’ chance of containing the blaze, which has already engulfed many homes, including those of stars such as Paris Hilton.
Hollywood is said to be ‘in chaos’, with streets gridlocked as properties are evacuated and people flee with their belongings.
LA Tourism issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon saying: “We are heartbroken to see the overnight devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires.
“Our hearts are with the members of our community during this difficult time. We extend our deepest gratitude to the first responders who have worked tirelessly to combat the fires since they began on Tuesday.
“The fires remain active, and the safety of residents, visitors, and first responders in the affected areas is our highest priority.
“We urge everyone to stay informed through the Los Angeles Fire Department for the latest evacuation updates and to follow all warnings and evacuation orders from first responders.”
The Foreign Office updated its travel advice on Wednesday, urging Brits in LA to follow the advice of local authorities.
Los Angeles International Airport remains open and, according to Flightradar24, flights are suffering only minimal disruption.
Virgin Atlantic confirmed on Wednesday that it had made no changes to its schedule, but added that it was ‘monitoring the situation closely’.
Some LA tourist attactions have closed, including Universal Studios, which posted the following message on its website: “Out of an abundance of caution, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk will be closed on Thursday, January 9 as a result of the extreme winds and fire conditions.
“As always, the safety of our team members and our guests is our top priority. We continue to assess the situation and are directing guests to visit our website for updates.”
Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood posted the following message: “Due to continued strong winds and fire conditions, we will be closed on January 9, 2025.
“The safety of our guests and employees is our top priority. Please reach out to us at 818-977-8687 or email us at [email protected] to reschedule or request a refund for your tour. We apologize for any inconvenience.”
