A new wildfire has erupted in West Hills, California, close to homes in the Calabasas and Hidden Hills areas.
The Kenneth Fire started near the west end of Victory Boulevard at around 2:30 p.m. and has consumed nearly 800 acres of brush, as of 5 p.m., fanned by gusty Santa Ana winds.
Mandatory evacuation orders were initially issued for areas around Vanowen Street south to Burbank Boulevard and County Lane Road east to Valley Circle Boulevard, but they were downgraded to an evacuation warning just before 5:15 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
“The challenging terrain and persistent winds complicate suppression activities, necessitating heightened vigilance from residents and adherence to directives from local authorities,” Incident commanders shared in a bulletin.
Hidden Hills, which has become a celebrity hot spot in recent years, is home to many Hollywood stars, including Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Jennifer Lopez, Will Smith and Lil Wayne, among others.
Wildfires initially broke out Tuesday in Pacific Palisades, before spreading to parts of Malibu and Santa Monica overnight. As of early Thursday, the Los Angeles Fire Department said the Palisades Fire was zero percent contained. Two other active wildfires in the L.A. area — the Eaton and Woodley fires — are also at zero percent containment. The Lidia fire is 40 percent contained, and the Hurst fire is 10 percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Another fire, named the Sunset Fire, broke out Wednesday night in the Hollywood Hills, endangering the iconic landmark the Hollywood Bowl, among other tourist destinations. By Thursday morning, firefighters were able to contain the blaze and all evacuation orders were lifted.
This is a developing story.
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