Hollywood Hills' Sunset Fire Races Toward Homes Near Runyon Canyon

6:56 a.m. UPDATE: A fast-moving blaze in the Hollywood Hills grew to 60 acres overnight, NBC4 reported. Evacuation orders were still in place before 7 a.m.

ORIGINAL STORY:

HOLLYWOOD, CA — A blaze broke out in the Hollywood Hills Wednesday evening, and it burned rapidly uphill toward homes. Within minutes, the blaze had burned 20 acres Wednesday night.

As of 8:30 p.m., the blaze, known as the Sunset Fire, had burned 60 acres.

The fire is burning between Runyon Canyon and Wattles Park. A mandatory evacuation order is now in place, and a wide swath of the Hollywood Hills faces evacuation warnings. The fire was burning near the Hollywood Bowl and other iconic landmarks.

The evacuation order was for Laurel Canyon Boulevard (on the west) to Mulholland Drive (on the north) to 101 Freeway (on the east) down to Hollywood Boulevard (on the south), according to Cal Fire. An evacuation center was established at the Pan Pacific Recreation Center, 7600 Beverly Blvd.

Hollywood Hills Fire Map: See Sunset Fire Perimeter, Evacuation Areas

The Sunset Fire erupted around 5:30 p.m. in an area near Solar and Astral drives.

Officials said the blaze was moving rapidly uphill and would likely be threatening structures within minutes. Additional crews were being summoned to the scene.

Multiple water-dropping aircraft were being used in hopes of slowing the fire's advance. Crews were able to collect water from the Hollywood reservoir, making quick turnarounds and water drops. The work appeared to be effective in slowing down the progress of the fire Wednesday night.

There was no immediate word on how the fire started.

LAFD crews ordered several road closures in the area, including a shutdown of popular Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Crescent Heights Boulevard.

Evacuation gridlock is expected. Delays in evacuating could be life-threatening, and residents in evacuation zones are urged to leave immediately. Those in evacuation warning areas should be prepared to leave on a minute's notice.

The Beverly Hills Fire Department is monitoring the Sunset Fire in the Runyon Canyon area of the Hollywood Hills, according to city officials. There is an evacuation warning for areas north of Sunset Boulevard and east of Coldwater Canyon Drive.

The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.