Parking Enforcement Eased, Businesses Closed, and BHUSD Closes Schools
The Beverly Hills School District has canceled classes and released a statement that said, “BHUSD (Schools and District Office) will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, January 9th. All before and after-school activities, including City Programs, are canceled. Schools and activities are expected to reopen on Friday, January 10th, pending further developments.”
Council District 5 City Council Member Katy Yaroslavky’s office issued multiple updates on Wednesday. In the final update, the emailed statement notes the following:
Mandatory evacuation orders remain active for areas impacted by the Sunset Fire and Palisades Fire.
- Sunset Fire Evacuations: Residents in areas east of Laurel Canyon Boulevard, south of Mulholland Drive, west of the 101 Freeway, and north of Hollywood Boulevard must leave immediately.
- Palisades Fire Evacuations: Mandatory orders cover regions near Topanga Canyon Boulevard, Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), and Sunset Boulevard west of Kenter Avenue.
Residents in evacuation warning zones, marked in yellow on official maps, should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. Those in mandatory evacuation areas are urged to evacuate immediately.
Evacuation centers remain open at the following locations:
- Pan Pacific Park (7600 Beverly Blvd.)
- Westwood Recreation Center (1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd.)
In the City Council District, two fires are still burning. The Sunset Fire started on Wednesday night but seems to be under control and The Palisades Fire continues to rage with 0% containment.
- Sunset Fire: The fire has burned 42 acres. Decreased wind speeds have allowed fire crews and helicopters to make significant progress.
- Palisades Fire: Currently at 15,800 acres, the fire has not grown significantly. Crews continue containment efforts with both ground teams and aerial support.
Other Fires:
- Hurst Fire: 700 acres in Sylmar.
- Eaton Fire: 10,600 acres in Altadena/Pasadena.
- Sunswept Fire: A spot fire in Studio City. Forward progress has been stopped.
Westwood Recreation Center and Pan Pacific Park are fully stocked with supplies thanks to the community’s generosity. Additional supply donations are not needed at this time. Financial contributions can be made to organizations like:
Street parking and non-emergency parking enforcement are suspended tomorrow to assist those impacted. However, red zones and areas required for fire operations will still be enforced. Residents must follow all instructions from emergency responders.
“These have been challenging days for all of us. My team and I are here to support you. Please remain vigilant, follow evacuation orders, and take care of one another. For assistance or resources, contact my office at 323-866-1828 or email Councilmember.Yaroslavsky@lacity.org.
Westwood Village released a statement on Wednesday which stated that many businesses in Westwood, including The Hammer Museum, have chosen to close on Wednesday. The Hammer Museum updated the situation later that day and said that the Museum would remain closed on Thursday, January 9.
The association noted that “for the health and safety of our team, Westwood Ambassador services are temporarily paused. The Ambassador duty phone is available for non-emergency inquiries, but for emergencies, please call 911 or 877-ASK-LAPD immediately.”
