Fire Breaks Out in Santa Monica Mountains in Pacific Palisades. Smoke Blankets Much of Santa Monica

This morning, SMMUSD parents and woke up to a message warning families that high winds and low humidity and moisture levels could lead to a repeat of the fires that closed schools at the end of 2024.

Unfortunately, a large fire did break out again today. It’s located in Malibu as the previous fires, but in Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades…just one day after SMMUSD opened its last school closed by the 2024 fires. 

Smoke from the fire in the Santa Monica Mountains is blanketing portions of the city. If you are planning to travel to Santa Monica (or Malibu, West L.A., etc…) , have children in school in Santa Monica or have any sort of outing planned on the Westside; check with the location before beginning your trip.

The extent of the fire isn’t fully known yet, and officials with the city, county, state, school district and more are monitoring the situation.

For more information, please monitor the social media for the City of Santa Monica, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District and other news outlets.

About The Author

Damien Newton

Damien is the executive director of the Southern California Streets Initiative which publishes Santa Monica Next, Streetsblog Los Angeles, Streetsblog San Francisco, Streetsblog California and Longbeachize.

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