A brush fire burning along the 405 Freeway near the Getty Center in Los Angeles scorched approximately 25 acres Wednesday afternoon before firefighters halted its forward progress. The blaze, dubbed the Getty Fire, was reported at 4:15 p.m. near Getty Center Drive, north of the Getty Center in the Brentwood area.
Firefighters contained the fire’s spread by 6 p.m., with evacuation warnings lifted around 8:40 p.m. The Getty Center was evacuated as a precaution, though officials confirmed the museum’s collections and art were safe. The blaze prompted the closure of the Getty Center and prompted emergency response efforts involving multiple water-dropping helicopters.
Evacuation zones and affected areas
The Los Angeles Fire Department issued an evacuation warning for a zone bounded by Promontory Road to the north, Sunset Boulevard to the south, the 405 Freeway to the east, and Bundy Drive to the west. This area included the Getty Center and Mount Saint Mary’s University. The warning was lifted after firefighters gained control of the fire’s spread.
The Getty Center confirmed on its website that it had evacuated visitors and staff, stating: “The collections and art are safe, and we're working with the fire department on monitoring the situation.”
Firefighting response and containment
Firefighters responded with aerial and ground support, including multiple helicopters dropping water to douse the flames. The fire was initially reported at 3 acres and grew to 25 acres before containment. Despite the fire’s proximity to the freeway, lanes on the 405 Freeway remained open throughout the incident.
Regional context and official responses
The fire occurred amid high temperatures across Southern California, with readings exceeding 100 degrees in some areas. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated on X (formerly Twitter) that she was in contact with fire personnel at the scene. City Councilmember Traci Park, whose district includes the affected area, left a committee meeting early to respond to the fire.
The Los Angeles Fire Department did not report any structural damage or injuries as of the latest updates.