Palisades Fire: Santa Monica evacuation warning and curfew remain, public health advisories, business recovery
January 15, 2025 5:15 PM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2025) – The city of Santa Monica remains vigilant and monitoring the Palisades Fire response, as firefighting crews continued to make progress Wednesday with weather conditions expected to improve Thursday and Friday.
With high winds and dry conditions in the region through Wednesday, the voluntary Evacuation Warning in the areas north of San Vicente Boulevard remains in place out of an abundance of caution and in coordination with the unified incident command team. Santa Monica continues to have increased fire crew staffing within the city limits.
Current evacuation information for Santa Monica:
Current evacuation information for Santa Monica:
Evacuation Warning: All areas of Santa Monica north of San Vicente Boulevard
Residents may voluntarily return to this area but should remain prepared with gathered essentials and be ready to leave the area if conditions worsen.
Evacuation zones in the city of Los Angeles along the Santa Monica border remain unchanged. A current evacuation map for the entire Palisades Fire incident can be viewed here.
Access to evacuated areas in surrounding communities is not available through Santa Monica. These areas remain unsafe for the public, and unauthorized entry puts everyone, including first responders, at risk. Access permissions and restrictions to evacuated areas in surrounding communities are controlled by the Los Angeles Police Department. For information on access permissions and restrictions, contact city of Los Angeles officials.
Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH, remains closed past Lincoln Boulevard. Santa Monica remains accessible from the I-10 Freeway via the Centinela Avenue, Cloverfield Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard exits.
A curfew remains in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in all evacuation zones. In Santa Monica, this applies to the area from San Vicente Boulevard north to the city limit.
Curfew orders are in place to protect evacuation zones from criminals who choose to loot or commit other crimes in these areas. These individuals will be arrested, booked and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The Santa Monica Police Department have made over 40 arrests in evacuation zones for crimes such as burglary, drug possession and outstanding warrants. Current evacuation zones will continue to be monitored for criminal activity.
If you see anything suspicious or disturbing, please call 911 immediately for life-threatening emergencies, or (310) 458-8491.
Residents are advised to remain vigilant of scammers and price gouging. Find resources from the California Attorney General's Office here.
As of Jan. 7, state and local laws prohibit price increases exceeding 10 percent for goods, services and housing after the declared fire and wind emergencies. If you suspect instances of price gouging in Santa Monica, please contact the Consumer Protection Unit of the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office at Consumer.Mailbox@santamonica.gov or visit smconsumer.org.
For rental listings, be sure that you're working with trusted sources and know the clues of a rental housing scam. Click here for general information on how to avoid rental listing scams.
City Manager David White signed an updated Emergency Order late Tuesday, affirming the City Council’s approval at a special meeting Jan. 10. Read the updated order here.
Street-sweeping related parking enforcement will be suspended in the evacuation warning area north of San Vicente Boulevard on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 16 and 17 only. Residents in the evacuation warning area are asked to move their cars on their normal street sweeping days for crews to work without obstruction. Street sweeping in all other areas of the city is under normal operations.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health has issued a Windblown Dust and Ash Advisory. Windblown dust and ash contain small particles that may cause irritation or exacerbate pre-existing health conditions, particularly for children, older adults, pregnant individuals, and those with heart or lung conditions. Follow precautions to reduce exposure.
Please refrain from using leaf blowers that can further disperse ash and dust. Visit the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health website for the latest fire safety and health information, safe clean up after a fire; wear gloves, a disposable mask of rating N-95 or better, and gently sweep followed by wet mopping, and prohibitions on using leaf blowers.
Beach water quality may be affected due to runoff during firefighting operations, as well as debris from fire-damaged homes. Please refrain from power washing ash and other debris as it will further contaminate our waterways. View the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health Ocean Water Advisory for more information.
Santa Monica’s tap water is safe to drink. If you get your water serviced through LADWP, call 1-800-DIAL-DWP for official information.
Mask distribution and other disaster resources are available at the westside Local Assistance and Disaster Recovery Center at UCLA Research Park West, 10850 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles. Visit recovery.lacounty.gov for more information.
The Small Business Administration is offering home disaster, business disaster and economic injury disaster loans. They have set up free walk-in business counseling at the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce to help those affected by the fire with their applications. Hours are Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2525 Main St. #103 – this service will not be available on Monday Jan. 20 due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.
Santa Monica businesses are open and ready to serve evacuees, first responders and the general public. View promotions and offers, from 25 local hotels extending substantial discounts to first responders and evacuees, and from over 50 restaurants, bars, salons, retail, health and wellness and car rental services.
Residents and visitors looking for ways to help local businesses can support their favorite Santa Monica restaurant or retailer as they are able, including purchasing gift certificates for future use or to give to friends and loved ones affected by the fire.
Support local vendors at the Santa Monica Farmers Market, now open in all locations as regularly scheduled.
Santa Monica Pier invites the community to support by purchasing gift cards from Santa Monica restaurants, shops and small businesses and bringing them to Locals’ Night on Jan. 23. Gift cards will be collected and donated to those in need.
Visit Santa Monica businesses using Big Blue Bus or the Metro E Line. Both transit agencies have suspended fares until further notice. For Big Blue Bus routes and the latest information visit bigbluebus.com. If driving to Santa Monica, exit the I-10 at Lincoln or Cloverfield Boulevards, or Centinela Avenue due to continued PCH closures.
As air quality improves, review the bike map, and take advantage of a dense network of bikeways and convenient bike racks.
The city will continue to monitor fire activity and assist regional recovery efforts. Out of state firefighting reinforcements are in the area to support Palisades Fire efforts and Santa Monica is helping facilitate lodging and apparatus staging areas for fire teams fighting on the front lines.
Residents are encouraged to continue to follow updates and sign up for SMAlerts for important safety information and follow the city on Facebook, X or Instagram for regular updates.
For more information about donations and the latest on city events and facility closures, and continued Palisades Fire updates, visit Santamonica.gov.
Media Contact
Tati Simonian
Public Information Officer
Tati.Simonian@santamonica.gov
Categories
Safety, Street Closures, Transportation Planning