LOS ANGELES — A brush fire beside the 405 Freeway near the Getty Center burned about 25 acres Wednesday, September 9, prompting evacuation warnings in parts of Brentwood and Bel-Air and forcing the Getty Center to evacuate visitors and staff.
Wildfire near Getty Center turns 405 Freeway into LA rush hour nightmare https://t.co/V0HhPvLI1L pic.twitter.com/Gu8myw8wRt
— New York Post (@nypost) September 9, 2026
#BreakingNews: Los Angeles fire crews are battling a brush fire burning in the hillside near the Getty Center, along the northbound 405 Freeway, in Bel-Air that prompted evacuation warnings Wednesday. https://t.co/wLBHrnqKtM pic.twitter.com/Rv3E39oo3y
— KTLA (@KTLA) September 10, 2026
The Getty Fire was reported at about 4:15 p.m. near Getty Center Drive in the Sepulveda Pass. Flames spread through hillside vegetation as a plume of smoke rose over West Los Angeles, drawing a large response from ground crews and water-dropping helicopters.
Firefighters stopped the blaze’s forward progress at about 6:12 p.m.. Crews then shifted their focus to strengthening fire lines, extinguishing hot spots and monitoring the hillside for flare-ups.
Getty Fire grows to about 25 acres
The fire expanded quickly after initially being reported at only a few acres. Estimates increased from about five acres to 20 acres before the burn area reached approximately 25 acres.
Multiple helicopters made water drops while firefighters worked across the steep terrain. Around 185 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel remained assigned to the incident after forward progress was stopped, with assistance from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Stopping forward progress is an important firefighting milestone, but it does not mean a fire is completely extinguished. Crews still need to secure the perimeter and prevent remaining hot spots from reigniting vegetation.
#BreakingNews: Los Angeles fire crews are battling a brush fire burning in the hillside near the Getty Center, along the northbound 405 Freeway, in Bel-Air that prompted evacuation warnings Wednesday. https://t.co/wLBHrnqKtM pic.twitter.com/Rv3E39oo3y
— KTLA (@KTLA) September 10, 2026
Evacuation warnings issued in Brentwood and Bel-Air
Authorities issued evacuation warnings for Genasys zones LFD-0895 and LFD-0967.
The warning 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. Areas around the Getty Center and Mount Saint Mary’s University Chalon Campus were included.
An evacuation warning is not a mandatory evacuation order. It means residents should be prepared to leave quickly if conditions worsen. People who need extra time to evacuate, including those with mobility needs or animals, should prepare early.
Residents should check the Los Angeles Fire Department’s official emergency alerts for current evacuation information rather than relying on outdated maps or social media posts.
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Getty Center evacuated, collections reported safe
The Getty Center closed early and evacuated visitors and employees because of the nearby fire.
Getty officials said the museum’s collections and artwork were safe and staff were working with the fire department while monitoring conditions. No damage to the Getty Center or its collections was reported.
The precautionary evacuation drew particular attention because the museum sits in the hills above the Sepulveda Pass and houses internationally significant paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, photographs and other works.
405 Freeway remains open during firefighting response
Despite the fire burning close to Interstate 405, freeway lanes remained open during the main firefighting operation.
Smoke, helicopters and emergency vehicles could still contribute to congestion around Getty Center Drive and the Sepulveda Pass. Drivers should avoid slowing to watch firefighting activity and give emergency vehicles room to operate.
Extreme heat adds to Southern California fire concerns
The fire erupted during dangerously hot weather across Southern California, with some areas expected to see temperatures as high as 108 degrees.
Fire officials said the Getty Fire was not considered wind-driven. Even without strong winds, high temperatures, brush and steep terrain can create difficult conditions for firefighters.
Elevated humidity was also affecting the region as moisture associated with the remnants of Hurricane Marie moved into Southern California. The conditions come amid an active period of Pacific weather, including Hurricane Lowell’s damaging wind, flooding and surf threat in Hawaii.
No injuries or structures destroyed in initial reports
No injuries were reported during the initial response, and officials said no structures were immediately threatened. No destroyed buildings had been reported as firefighters gained the upper hand.
The Getty Fire adds to a busy period for Southern California emergency services following a recent emergency response at Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport in San Diego.
Getty Fire cause remains under investigation
Authorities had not identified what sparked the blaze. The cause of the Getty Fire remains under investigation, and officials had not announced evidence pointing to a specific ignition source.
For residents near the burn area, the major development is that firefighters stopped forward progress at approximately 25 acres. People in evacuation-warning zones should continue monitoring official information until authorities confirm the warnings have been lifted.
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