Getty Fire prompts evacuation warnings as brush blaze burns near 405 and Getty Center

LOS ANGELES - A brush fire broke out Wednesday afternoon along the 405 Freeway near the Getty Center, prompting evacuation warnings in Brentwood and Bel-Air and forcing the museum to close.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said the blaze, named the Getty Fire, was reported about 4:15 to 4:30 p.m. near Getty Center Drive in the Sepulveda Pass. Early estimates put it at about 5 acres of well-involved brush. Later reports said it grew to roughly 20 to 25 acres before crews stopped its forward progress around 6:15 p.m. Firefighters attacked the fire on the ground and from the air. The cause remained under investigation.

LAFD issued evacuation warnings - not mandatory orders - for Genasys zones LFD-0895 and LFD-0967. Officials described the area as west of the 405, north of Sunset Boulevard, east of Tigertail Road and south of Promontory Road, also cited as bounded by Promontory Road, Sunset Boulevard, the 405 and Bundy Drive. The warning includes the Getty Center and Mount St. Mary's University. Residents were told to prepare to leave if conditions worsened. People who need extra time, and those with pets or livestock, were advised to go immediately.

The Getty Center evacuated visitors and staff and closed for the rest of the day. A museum spokesperson said the collections and art were safe and that Getty was coordinating with the Fire Department. Mayor Karen Bass said anyone in the area should stay alert and follow first responders. LAPD asked the public to avoid the Sepulveda Pass where possible as crews worked the hillside.

LAFD Air Operations reported no structures immediately threatened in early updates. No injuries were reported in initial accounts. The 405 remained open, though smoke was visible across West Los Angeles and traffic backed up during the evening commute.

The fire is not the first to burn near the museum. In 2019, a much larger Getty Fire consumed hundreds of acres in the same corridor. The Getty Center was designed with wildfire resistance in mind, including stone cladding and other defensive features.

Residents in the warning area should check Genasys Protect for their address and monitor LAFD and CAL FIRE for containment updates. CAL FIRE last updated the incident Wednesday evening and still listed the two evacuation-warning zones as in effect at that time.