California fires won’t destroy Getty Museum and its art as it’s a fire resistant fortress

Prized works of art in a museum near the scene of a California wildfire are safe as the building is fire-resistant with a own million-gallon water tank under its garage.

Authorities in Northern California ordered 180,000 residents to flee their homes on Sunday as historic winds fueled a wildfire in the wine country.  

Flames were seen raging along 405 Freeway near the Getty Center, which displays pre-20th century works of art by artists including Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

However fire resistance was built into the billion-dollar complex, Ron Hartwig, vice president of communications for the J. Paul Getty Trust said previously.

On  Monday, flames were seen raging along 405 Freeway near the museum which displays pre-20th century works of art by artists including Rembrandt and Van Gogh

The Getty Center Museum (left) is seen above on Monday shrouded in smoke from the wildfire that started nearby at the Sepulveda Pass

The Getty Center Museum (left) is seen above on Monday shrouded in smoke from the wildfire that started nearby at the Sepulveda Pass

The immediate zone around the building is kept green with fire-resistant plants, and the expansive area surrounding the campus is rigorously kept clear of grasses

The immediate zone around the building is kept green with fire-resistant plants, and the expansive area surrounding the campus is rigorously kept clear of grasses

The buildings also have strong concrete walls and automatic fire doors that can trap fires in sealed-off areas, The New York Times reported when previous fires ravaged the area in 2017.

There is also a carbon-filtered air conditioning system which is designed to get rid of smoke and internal sprinklers are ready in the case of a natural or deliberate incident.

‘Should any fire move within one of those compartmentalized areas, it can’t get anywhere,’ Michael G. Rogers, director of facilities at the Getty previously told The New York Times. 

The Getty also has a one million-gallon water tank buried under the parking garage, giving it the highest level of fire resistance. 

The $1 billion home of the J. Paul Getty Museum sits in the Santa Monica Mountains and has been closed to prevent harm to its works from smoke from several wildfires.

Its collections range from pre-20th century European paintings to Roman and Greek antiquities, tapestries, photographs and manuscripts, all protected by extensive anti-fire systems outside and in.

The immediate zone around the building is kept green with fire-resistant plants, and the expansive area surrounding the campus is rigorously kept clear of grasses. 

Canopies of oak trees also serve to suppress the growth of vegetation that could feed a blaze.

A small brush fire burns in the hills near the Getty Center in Los Angeles on Monday. Fire fighting aircraft quickly contained the Santa Ana wind driven fire.

A small brush fire burns in the hills near the Getty Center in Los Angeles on Monday. Fire fighting aircraft quickly contained the Santa Ana wind driven fire.

A small fire erupts at the entrance of The Getty Center in Los Angeles, California. The Getty fire started along the 405 Freeway near the Getty Center in Los Angeles on October 28

A small fire erupts at the entrance of The Getty Center in Los Angeles, California. The Getty fire started along the 405 Freeway near the Getty Center in Los Angeles on October 28 

The Getty Center is covered in smoke as the Getty fire burns Monday. However fire resistance was built into the billion-dollar complex, Ron Hartwig, vice president of communications for the J. Paul Getty Trust confirmed

The Getty Center is covered in smoke as the Getty fire burns Monday. However fire resistance was built into the billion-dollar complex, Ron Hartwig, vice president of communications for the J. Paul Getty Trust confirmed

The state of California has been plagued by at least nine wildfires in the last two weeks with the latest blaze to break out on Sunday near the Getty Center.

Meanwhile Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says the Getty wildfire in the city’s western neighborhoods has scorched more than 600 acres but its growth has slowed.

Dramatic footage showed smoke and flames surrounding the Getty Center with houses historic artwork by Rembrandt and Van Gogh.

Celebrities have been fleeing their homes and dramatic footage showed flames rapidly spreading towards the eight-bedroom Brentwood mansion of actor Josh Duhamel Monday. 

He bought the 8,232 sq ft sprawling property with then-wife Fergie for $5.2million in 2007.

Hudson was seen getting into her vehicle in the upscale Pacific Palisades neighborhood to evacuate early Monday morning as the threat of fire loomed large.

Dramatic images showed airplanes flying at low altitude while dropping fire retardant on the area surrounding Schwarzenegger’s home.

The $1 billion home of the J. Paul Getty Museum sits in the Santa Monica Mountains and has been closed to prevent harm to its works from smoke from several wildfires

The $1 billion home of the J. Paul Getty Museum sits in the Santa Monica Mountains and has been closed to prevent harm to its works from smoke from several wildfires

The Getty Fire burns near the Getty Center along the 405 freeway north of Los Angeles, California, U.S. on Monday

The Getty Fire burns near the Getty Center along the 405 freeway north of Los Angeles, California, U.S. on Monday 

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says the Getty wildfire in the city's western neighborhoods has scorched more than 600 acres but its growth has slowed

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says the Getty wildfire in the city’s western neighborhoods has scorched more than 600 acres but its growth has slowed

Airplanes dropping water and fire retardant joined the battle against the destructive wildfire burning on the western side of Los Angeles.

Night-flying helicopters made water drops during predawn hours Monday and large aircraft started flying the area after the sun rose.

Two so-called ‘Super Scooper’ turboprop airplanes that scoop up water from lakes and reservoirs have begun making drops, along with converted jets unleashing loads of bright pink retardant.

Schwarzenegger, the movie star and former California governor, also tweeted that he evacuated his Brentwood home at 3:30am.

Monday night’s red carpet premiere in Los Angeles of ‘Terminator: Dark Fate,’ starring Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton, was canceled because of the fire.

‘We will be donating food intended for the after-party to the American Red Cross, which is serving those affected by the fires,’ Paramount said in a statement.

The ex-governor’s former wife, Maria Shriver, tweeted: ‘So grateful to our firefighters putting their lives on the line for all of us.

‘We have evacuated, but we’re safe. Praying for our neighbors.’

Shriver also tweeted: ‘Praying for everyone in the path of this terrifying destruction. Thank you again to our firefighters for keeping us safe.

Homes have burned since the fire erupted around 1:30 a.m. and was swept by Santa Ana winds into canyons and ridgetop neighborhoods. But there’s still no exact count of how many were destroyed.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas says his firefighters had to make tough choices about which homes could be saved.

Garcetti says the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The dry offshore gusts are expected to be replaced by a return of moist ocean air in the afternoon. But Santa Ana winds are forecast to return Tuesday night.

 

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