L.A. Residents Fret As Flames Engulf Pacific Palisades Home With Them Inside : 'Don't Open The Window'

Dramatic images are surfacing about the uncontained wildfires ravaging areas of Los Angeles, particularly the Pacific Palisades. As flames continue to advance, at least 30,000 residents have had to evacuate the area.

It is unknown if all residents warned managed to escape, as different videos posted on social media show people in particularly dangerous situations. In one of them, a man films as walls of fire rage just feet away from a home. He can be heard swearing at the situation and asking someone to refrain from opening a window.

Local officials have warned that the danger could escalate as wind gusts are expected to peak at speeds up to 100 miles per hour, fueling the flames and increasing the risk to nearby communities. Some evacuees abandoned their cars on narrow roads in the chaos after authorities urged them to run. A posterior report showed a bulldozer moving cars away from a road after their drivers left them. "They took the keys and just started running," says a KTLA5 reporter from the scene."

As the fire continues to spread, officials have expanded evacuation orders to northern Santa Monica. The National Weather Service has issued severe red flag warnings as dry, erratic, and powerful offshore winds intensify, with fire hazards extending from central California to the US-Mexico border. Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, Malibu, and the San Fernando Valley are facing a "particularly dangerous situation," the highest fire alert level.

The L.A. Times reported that firefighters battling the fires are finding hydrants dry, with a spokesman from the Department of Water and Power acknowledging the issue. He said he did not have details on the amount of hydrants in that situation, and the DWP added in a statement that crews were working to "ensure the availability of water supplies."

Two other fires near Altadena and Sylmar also remain uncontained, and evacuation orders have been issued for these areas as well. Schools in Santa Monica, Malibu, and Pasadena will be closed on Wednesday due to the fires.

President Joe Biden, who has been briefed regularly on the situation, urged residents to stay alert and follow the guidance of local authorities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized funds to assist in the firefighting efforts.