New evacuation orders in the Palisades Fire as blaze moves east, L.A. death toll rises

Authorities have verified at least 11 deaths in the continuing wildfires in the Los Angeles region, but say it is too early to estimate the real number since investigators are unable to reach places where intense flames, downed power lines, gas leaks, and other risks pose a threat to their safety.

The Palisades Fire, which ravaged coastal towns in Los Angeles this week, is advancing east, with students at the University of California, Los Angeles and personnel at the prestigious Getty Center awaiting information from officials.

The Palisades Fire, which started in the Pacific Palisades enclave in Malibu and burned hundreds of houses and other structures, was 21,596 acres and 11% controlled as of the most recent report. Flames are currently creeping east in the Mandeville Canyon region, near Interstate 405, one of Los Angeles' busiest roads.

Firefighters are rushing to make progress and safeguard additional neighborhoods from the fire, which is expected to worsen later this weekend and early next week due to increased wind and dry weather.

Below are some crucial places surrounding the growing firefight:

With almost 46,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the university in Los Angeles' Westwood area is one of the largest in the state. New evacuation advisories have been issued for a region near the school, and a campus advisory cautioned students that, while they are not under an evacuation order, they should be prepared to leave if called upon. The university has ordered that all classes on Monday be done remotely.

Brentwood, another affluent neighborhood stretching into the hills inland from Pacific Palisades and finishing at I-405, is home to the city's cultural institution, the Getty Center. The center has evacuated all of its employees, with the exception of a small team of emergency professionals, after the museum was included in an extended evacuation order on Friday evening. Some residents in the nearby Bel Air enclave have also been warned to evacuate.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs evacuated veteran residents from its West Los Angeles Medical Center on Friday night, as evacuation alerts expanded to include that region.

The San Fernando Valley hamlet of Encino borders the widening conflict to the north, and a fresh evacuation order was issued Friday night that included the Encino Reservoir.

According to the California Department of Transportation, many off-ramps on the I-405 highway have been closed, affecting travel in other valley areas as well.