Pacific Palisades wildfire forces Joe Biden to change plans with evacuation order issued as ‘blowtorch’ blaze spreads
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A RAGING wildfire has ravaged wealthy Los Angeles neighborhoods, forcing Joe Biden to cancel a planned visit. Residents of the Pacific Palisades are running for their lives from the blaze that firefighters describe as the "worst possible scenario.". The fire, which is believed to have caught in dry vegetation, was first reported around 10:30 am, according to Los Angeles spokesperson Erik Scott.
![[A fast-moving wildfire has broken out just north of Los Angeles]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/burning-pacific-palisades-upscale-spot-962225388.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
It quickly grew in scale, covering an area of 200 acres in under an hour. Throughout the morning, it spread rapidly and is now heading westward toward the historic mansions. President Joe Biden was scheduled to give remarks in the nearby Coachella Valley, where he would announce the creation of two national monuments.
![[Joe Biden was due to visit the West Coast today, but the visit was postponed due to the wildfires]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/president-joe-biden-greeted-new-962032173.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
These monuments will represent the protection of more than 848,000 acres of land from drilling and other energy development. However, Biden abruptly canceled the speech because of the fire. Around 26,000 people are under an evacuation order, with more than 13,000 buildings threatened by fire.
![[A mandatory evacuation order is in place in several neighborhoods]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/epa11811824-man-wheelchair-evacuated-962224225.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The blaze has spread to an area of more than 300 acres. Darkness has descended on the coastal subdivision in western Los Angeles, and billows of smoke blotted out the sun. It has also spread to neighboring Santa Monica. Over 100 brave firefighters are fighting the firestorm, which has been harrowingly described as a "blowtorch.".
![[Firefighters described the blaze as a worst-case scenario]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/firefighter-tries-extinguish-fire-damages-962226141.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
