LA's Getty Center was built with fire protection in mind
- by Kelli Lowe
- in Global Media
- — Dec 8, 2017
Angelenos captured the Brentwood or Skirball fire, one of several southern California wildfires, coming dangerously close to the Getty Center in West Los Angeles during the beginning of the Wednesday morning commute.
More than 125 firefighters were battling the blaze and working to save homes in the area, according to the Times.
The 405, a major freeway servicing Los Angeles, has completely shut down between the 101 and the 10 freeways due to the spreading fire.
"We expect to be out here all week fighting and containing this fire", Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
According to its website, the museum was closed on December 5 and December 6 "to protect the collections from smoke from fires in the region", but as of now, the art inside is staying put. "We're doing everything we can now to maintain public safety". As of 9:30 a.m., off-ramps along the northbound 405 Freeway are closed at the 10 Freeway to Mulholland Drive, and southbound 405 off-ramps are closed from Mulholland to Sunset Boulevard, a CHP spokesman said.
"Calls are being rerouted so you will get help!" the station tweeted.
A raging wildfire fueled by high winds created an incredible - and terrifying - sight for morning commuters Wednesday on Interstate 405 in Los Angeles. The fire, which had zero containment, destroyed at least 150 structures and was threatening 12,000 others.
Deputy Fire Chief Charles Butler said firefighters and aircraft stopped the growth of the 475-acre blaze in the Bel Air neighbourhood. Air filtration systems are protecting the galleries from smoke.
As fire swirled around them Wednesday, employees at the Getty Center, which is now featuring masterpieces by the Italian painter Caravaggio, announced on Twitter that the art galleries would be closed. "THANK YOU to all First Responders for your incredible work!"
The Getty Center was already set to be closed Wednesday due to the other wildfires burning in Southern California.
"This fire is very unsafe and spreading rapidly, but we'll continue to attack it with all we've got", Brown said.
Upton of Cal Fire said she can not remember any time when so many wind-driven fires were burning at the same time this late in the fire season. Classes were canceled at all schools in the Ventura Unified School District on Wednesday.
