Vice President Kamala Harris' Los Angeles home was placed under an evacuation order Tuesday night, her press secretary confirmed, as the Palisades fire blazed through acres of the city.
Approximately 130,000 Los Angeles residents are under evacuation orders and while the former Democratic presidential candidate owns a home in an evacuation zone, she does not reside there while in office.
Newsweek has reached out to the White House press team for comment via email on Thursday.
The Context
The Los Angeles fires have rapidly expanded, burning thousands of acres as new blazes continue to ignite. As well as the five people reported dead, hundreds of structures have been reduced to ashes, according to The Associated Press.
The Palisades fire, which is the largest of the blazes has been burning since the morning of January 7. Located in a predominantly affluent area, it has forced the evacuation of thousands, including several celebrities. Vice President Kamala Harris, who serves as second in command, would have been among them had she been residing in her home.
The fire, along with the others, have placed 130,000 people across the city to be under evacuation orders.
What To Know
The fires, which continue to spread and spark new blazes, are scorching through the city, with new ones cropping up daily.
Poor air quality readings in the area surrounding the fire have spiked due to the thick smoke pollution. Dry vegetation and the powerful Santa Ana winds gusting through Southern California have helped fuel the fires.
As of 4:30 a.m. local time, the Palisades fire has reached 17,234 acres and is considered the most destructive fire in Los Angeles city history.
The Palisades fire, located west of Vice President Kamala Harris' Brentwood home, prompted an evacuation order for her house Tuesday night, Ernie Apreza, the vice president's press secretary, said in a statement.
Apreza's X, formerly Twitter, post continued: "No one was in her home at the time. She and the Second Gentleman are praying for the safety of their fellow Californians, the heroic first responders, and Secret Service personnel."
Last night, the Vice President's neighborhood in Los Angeles was put under an evacuation order. No one was in her home at the time. She and the Second Gentleman are praying for the safety of their fellow Californians, the heroic first responders, and Secret Service personnel.
— Ernie Apreza (@ErnestoApreza46) January 8, 2025Evacuation orders posted on Cal Fire for the Palisades fire warn: "Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW. The area is lawfully closed to public access."
Several celebrities' homes have been reduced to rubble, including those of Paris Hilton, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, Cameron Mathison, and Billy Crystal.
The Eaton fire, near Altadena, also started burning on January 7 and has since reached 10,600 acres in size and is zero percent contained. This blaze is responsible for all five of the deaths reported thus far and has also resulted in the loss of around 1,000 structures.
The Hurst Fire, which has burned 855 acres, is 10 percent contained, while the Lidia Fire, ignited Wednesday and spreading to 348 acres, is 40 percent contained, according to Cal Fire as of early Thursday afternoon.
What People Are Saying
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement Wednesday morning: "I am urging residents in the affected areas to listen to local officials, remain vigilant, and evacuate immediately if told to do so … As a proud daughter of California, I know the damage that wildfires have on our neighbors and communities. I also know that the impact is often felt long after the fire is contained. As we respond and as Californians recover, I will ensure that our administration is in constant contact with state and local officials."
California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement on X Wednesday evening: "More than 7,500 firefighting personnel are on the ground working with local and federal partners to respond to California's ongoing historic wildfires. Southern California residents—please remain vigilant tonight. Listen to local officials and be ready to evacuate if you're near impacted areas."
What Happens Next
President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he has approved Governor Newsom's request for a major disaster declaration in response to the Los Angeles wildfires, making federal funding available to support the victims and rescue efforts.
Firefighting efforts continue as the unrelenting blazes push through the city. Cal Fire evacuation information is available online and on social media.
Harris is likely to return to her California home once she leaves office on January 20.
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