A major wildfire broke out in Los Angeles on January 7. The fire engulfed the coastal area of Pacific Palisades, an elite residential area located between Santa Monica and Malibu. The Pacific Palisades area is home to Hollywood celebrities, such as actors Ben Affleck, Paris Hilton and James Woods , as well as US Vice President Kamala Harris . The fire covered about 1,200 hectares. Residential buildings were engulfed in flames, and aircraft were called in to fight the fire. The work of firefighters is complicated by strong winds – the National Weather Service reported that winds of up to 36 meters per second are expected in most of Los Angeles County until January 9. Authorities have called on tens of thousands of local residents to evacuate. As CNN notes , the evacuation is complicated by traffic jams that have arisen, many people are abandoning their cars and walking, some have decided to take refuge on the beach. A state of emergency has been declared in Los Angeles. Authorities are bracing for more fires elsewhere in California, with fires reported in the Los Angeles area of Silmore and in the foothills above Pasadena.