Terrifying video shows drivers in LA passing burning hills

Drivers on their way to work in Los Angeles were faced with terrifying scenes along a major freeway after the fifth California wildfire this week left the hillside next to their road ablaze.

The inferno – named the Skirball Fire – has consumed more than 50 acres of land and threatens LA’s exclusive Bel Air neighborhood, UCLA and the Getty Center for the arts alongside the I-405 freeway.

The freeway is now shut down as 125 firefighters and several helicopters attempt to get the blaze under control – but early-morning commuters managed to capture this stunning footage.

As they traveled gingerly passed the ferocious fire, their cars passed just feet away from the deadly – and ever-spreading – flames.

Several people captured the surreal moment on video and shared them on social media.

‘Not the typical morning commute…’ one driver tweeted dryly.

 

It has prompted mandatory evacuation orders and the complete closure of the 405 Freeway

A dramatic 50-acre brush fire erupted Wednesday morning in the Sepulveda Pass area of Los Angeles was captured in this footage. It has prompted mandatory evacuation orders and the complete closure of the 405 Freeway

The Skirball Fire was reported shortly before 5am near Mulholland Drive, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department

The location is near the Skirball Cultural Center and the Getty Center for the arts

The Skirball Fire was reported shortly before 5am near Mulholland Drive, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The location is near the Skirball Cultural Center and the Getty Center for the arts

The Skirball Fire was spotted at 4:52am on Wednesday along Interstate 405 in Sepulveda Pass, which carries the heavily traveled highway between LA and the San Fernando Valley.

The early-morning traffic was already flowing through Sepulveda Pass when commuters noticed a glow around the Getty Center.

The fast-moving brush fire had spread rapidly up the hills on the east side of the 405, moving toward homes in Bel Air, the Getty and UCLA.

As the day wore on the road was closed down in both directions and Bel Air evacuated – with several homes in the famous neighborhood catching fire. 

Winds were dying down early Wednesday, but are expected to pick up speeds in the evening – perhaps up to 50mph, causing fire to spread further, CNN reported.

The Skirball Fire is just one of five blazes now scouring Southern California, following the Thomas Fire in Ventura County, the Rye Fire near Santa Clarita, the Creek Fire near Sylmar and an as-yet-unnamed fire near San Bernardino.

As the countryside became swathed in choking smoke, on the TV shows Westworld and SWAT was postponed, as producers recalled cast and crew amid fears that they might be put at risk by the largely uncontrollable blazes.

HBO said in a statement that Westworld was filming its second season in an area near two Los Angeles County fires on Tuesday but producers decided to shut down and avoid any danger to actors or crew members.

It said the show will resume filming when conditions there are safe.

Filming on SWAT was also suspended; it’s unclear when producers on that series hope to get their cast and crew back to work.

Among the many hundreds of buildings threatened by the Thomas fire is Johnny Cash’s former home in Casitas Springs.

The country musician moved to a hilltop house in the the California community in the 1960s, and as of Tuesday evening it was surrounded by a literal ring of fire. It’s not yet known whether the building was damaged. 

Firefighters continue to battle the Southern California wildfires, which now number five. Here, the Creek Fire devours a hillside in the Shadow Hills neighborhood on December 5

Firefighters continue to battle the Southern California wildfires, which now number five. Here, the Creek Fire devours a hillside in the Shadow Hills neighborhood on December 5

People from the Shadow Hills neighborhood watch the Creek Fire burn. This is one of the first three reported fires; the fourth started on Tuesday afternoon in San Bernardino, and a fifth began early Wednesday morning near Los Angeles

People from the Shadow Hills neighborhood watch the Creek Fire burn. This is one of the first three reported fires; the fourth started on Tuesday afternoon in San Bernardino, and a fifth began early Wednesday morning near Los Angeles

A home in the Kagel Canyon area of Southern California's San Fernando Valley is gutted by the Creek Fire. Firefighters have struggled to contain the blazes, which have largely run out of control

A home in the Kagel Canyon area of Southern California’s San Fernando Valley is gutted by the Creek Fire. Firefighters have struggled to contain the blazes, which have largely run out of control

A farnis consumed by fire in Kagel Canyon. Production on two TV shows in the area - HBO's sci-fi Western Westworld and CBS's cop drama show SWAT - was paused on Wednesday over fears for the safety of their cast and crew

A farnis consumed by fire in Kagel Canyon. Production on two TV shows in the area – HBO’s sci-fi Western Westworld and CBS’s cop drama show SWAT – was paused on Wednesday over fears for the safety of their cast and crew

Horse stables are engulfed in Kagel Canyon. Strong winds in the area stopped firefighters from using water-dumping helicopters and planes overnight. It's hoped that they will resume use on Wednesday

Horse stables are engulfed in Kagel Canyon. Strong winds in the area stopped firefighters from using water-dumping helicopters and planes overnight. It’s hoped that they will resume use on Wednesday

A firefighter stomps out small embers on a San Fernando Valley ranch. The wind whipped up the brush fire to dangerous speeds. In total the fires have destroyed 200 homes and caused the evacuation of more than 200,000 people

A firefighter stomps out small embers on a San Fernando Valley ranch. The wind whipped up the brush fire to dangerous speeds. In total the fires have destroyed 200 homes and caused the evacuation of more than 200,000 people

Firefighters walk through a horse ranch threatened by the Creek Fire in the San Fernando Valley A fifth blaze also started early Wednesday morning near Los Angeles

Firefighters walk through a horse ranch threatened by the Creek Fire in the San Fernando Valley A fifth blaze also started early Wednesday morning near Los Angeles

The Thomas Fire - one of the first three fires - approaches a church in Casitas Springs. Johnny Cash's pre-fame home is located on the hillsides here, and was surrounded Tuesday night. It's not clear whether it survived

The Thomas Fire – one of the first three fires – approaches a church in Casitas Springs. Johnny Cash’s pre-fame home is located on the hillsides here, and was surrounded Tuesday night. It’s not clear whether it survived

The Thomas Fire, Creek Fire and Rye Fire were joined on Tuesday by the San Bernardino Fire, and on Wednesday morning the Los Angeles brush fire – dubbed the Skirball Fire – was reported to emergency services

Late Wednesday morning, Donald Trump retweeted a FEMA announcement that it was providing grants for the first three blazes – the Thomas, Rye and Creek fires.

He added: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in the path of California’s wildfires. I encourage everyone to heed the advice and orders of local and state officials. 

‘THANK YOU to all First Responders for your incredible work!’

It’s not known what sparked the San Bernardino fire – the fourth of the five fires so far this month – but two people were found badly burned near its point of origin close to a McDonald’s restaurant.

As of the end of Tuesday, fire officials said it had damaged some garages, but no houses had burned and hundreds of homes and businesses had been saved.

That stands in contrast to the four other fires, which have consumed hillsides, homes and streets throughout a swathe of Southern California.

One even devoured 30 miles of land between its origin point and the Ocean in just a day. 

The Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, who hold workouts near the largest of Southern California’s fires, have also canceled Wednesday’s practice.

On Tuesday, 65 miles northwest of LA, the residents of a mobile home park in Casitas Springs were working together to keep it from burning.

They doused homes and fences with water and built mounds of dirt to keep the flames at bay. 

A firefighter hoses down flareup fires in the remains of the two-story Hawaiian Village Apartment complex that burnt to the ground during the Thomas wildfire in Ventura

A firefighter hoses down flareup fires in the remains of the two-story Hawaiian Village Apartment complex that burnt to the ground during the Thomas wildfire in Ventura

The remains of the Hawaiian Apartment Complex continue to smolder. They were destroyed by the Thomas Fire, which was whipped up by brush fire

The remains of the Hawaiian Apartment Complex continue to smolder. They were destroyed by the Thomas Fire, which was whipped up by brush fire

Firefighters try to knock down a blaze at the ruins of a home in Ventura. The Thomas Fire has left at least one person dead and destroyed homes and businesses

Firefighters try to knock down a blaze at the ruins of a home in Ventura. The Thomas Fire has left at least one person dead and destroyed homes and businesses

A resident hoses a burning palm tree during the Creek Fire in Sunland. Winds have pushed the fires across tens of thousands of acres; 60 miles away, the San Bernardino fire continues to rage. It's believed to have started near a McDonald's there

A resident hoses a burning palm tree during the Creek Fire in Sunland. Winds have pushed the fires across tens of thousands of acres; 60 miles away, the San Bernardino fire continues to rage. It’s believed to have started near a McDonald’s there

A strong wind blows embers around a Sunland resident hosing down his burning property. Two people were found near the San Bernardino fire's origin point, both badly burned; it's not clear if they caused that fire

A strong wind blows embers around a Sunland resident hosing down his burning property. Two people were found near the San Bernardino fire’s origin point, both badly burned; it’s not clear if they caused that fire

A resident holds a leaking hose on his burning property  in Sunland. These fires have been pushed by the Santa Ana winds, and follow on from other blazes that occurred in the state in October

A resident holds a leaking hose on his burning property in Sunland. These fires have been pushed by the Santa Ana winds, and follow on from other blazes that occurred in the state in October

Smoke from the Thomas, Rye and Creek fires can be seen here on Tuesday afternoon in this satellite image of Southern California from NASA 

Smoke from the Thomas, Rye and Creek fires can be seen here on Tuesday afternoon in this satellite image of Southern California from NASA 

The Sunland property owner tries to stop a blaze from consuming a building on his property

The Sunland property owner tries to stop a blaze from consuming a building on his property

Thick black and grey smoke has consumed the sky over Ventura County Tuesday, where more than 27,000 people have been forced to evacuate due to the fast-moving wildfire

Thick black and grey smoke has consumed the sky over Ventura County Tuesdaywhere more than 27,000 people have been forced to evacuate due to the fast-moving wildfire



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