Fire Burns Getty Villa Grounds But Collections Safe

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA — The grounds of the Getty Villa Museum were burning Tuesday as an explosive brush fire powered by high winds swept through Pacific Palisades, but the institution’s collections were safe, according to Getty.

While trees and vegetation on the museum campus burned, no structures were on fire as of about 5:30 p.m., Getty said in a social media post, noting the museum had made efforts to clear brush throughout the year as part of its fire mitigations efforts. The museum also stores water on-site and immediately deployed irrigation throughout the grounds Tuesday morning.

Galleries and archives were sealed off from smoke by air-handling systems and the collections were protected by double-walled construction, according to Getty.

The museum was closed to non-emergency staff in response to the fire and is not open to the public Tuesdays. It will remain closed at least through Monday.

“We are grateful for the tireless work of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and other agencies to keep the Villa and its staff safe, as well as for the on-site presence of fire trucks throughout the day,” Getty said in the social media post.

READ MORE: Pacific Palisades Fire Burns 1,260 Acres, Prompts Mandatory Evacuations