All evacuation warnings around Brentwood were lifted after firefighting crews gained the upper hand on a brush fire that ignited along the 405 Freeway, threatening homes, a university campus, and the Getty Center. The blaze, dubbed the Getty Fire, was reported just after 4:15 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon in the hills above the southbound lanes of the freeway in the Sepulveda Pass, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Evacuations Lifted After Brush Fire Threatens Getty Center and Brentwood
The fire appeared to have ignited near the Getty Center parking lot located at 1200 Getty Center Drive, according to fire officials. Pushed by conditions on a very hot day, the blaze rapidly grew from an initial report of 3 acres to roughly 20 acres by 5:30 p.m., and ultimately reached approximately 25 acres before ground crews and water-dropping aircraft stopped its forward progress shortly after 6 p.m.
Emergency Response and Evacuation Warnings
The incident prompted authorities to issue evacuation warnings for two zones near the Getty Center. According to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Lyndsey Lantz, the evacuation area was roughly bounded by Promontory Road to the north, Sunset Boulevard to the south, the 405 Freeway to the east, and Bundy Drive to the west. The warnings covered the Brentwood neighborhood, Mount Saint Mary’s University, and the Getty Center itself.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared a statement on social media emphasizing that the Los Angeles Police Department was prepared to assist first responders if conditions worsened, advising individuals in the area to stay vigilant. At around 8:40 p.m., authorities officially lifted the evacuation warnings as firefighters secured the perimeter, though crews remained on the scene to work toward full containment.
Mount Saint Mary’s University responded to the proximity of the flames by canceling in-person classes at its Chalon undergraduate campus around 5:30 p.m. University spokesperson Debbie Ream noted that the approximately 400 students living on campus were instructed to prepare to shelter in place while visitors and commuters were encouraged to leave the area.
Impact on the Getty Center and Regional Weather Conditions
The Getty Center was closed to visitors and staff as a precaution, with visitors directed to leave through the parking garage. A museum spokesperson stated that the art collections remained safe while officials monitored the situation alongside the fire department. While the center was initially expected to reopen, officials later announced that the Getty Center would remain closed to provide firefighters with easier access to the area. Meanwhile, the Getty Villa in the Pacific Palisades—located about 10 miles away—remained unaffected and operated on normal hours.
Despite heavy smoke and steep brush on the west side of the 405 Freeway, traffic lanes on the freeway remained open, though the LAPD asked the public to avoid the Sepulveda Pass while roads were temporarily closed. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported and no homes were damaged by the flames.
The aggressive firefighting effort unfolded amid severe weather, as large swaths of Southern California experienced temperatures climbing over 100 degrees, accompanied by high humidity that made conditions feel even hotter, according to the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office. The cause of the Getty Fire remains under investigation.
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