It grew to 200 acres within about 90 minutes, threatening nearby homes and emitting a thick black smoke. By late afternoon, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said the fire had rapidly spread to about 1,

Southern California's Palisades Fire, fueled by a strong windstorm, has grown to 1,261 acres and prompted the city of Los Angeles to declare a state of emergency as 30,000 people have been forced to evacuate.

Thousands of people fled their homes as a brush fire in the Pacific Palisades quickly spread to 1,260 acres Tuesday, a blaze which authorities said could grow further as even stronger winds are expected through the night.

Officials warned people near the Pacific Palisades area in Los Angeles to evacuate after a fast-moving fire broke out.

The Los Angeles Fire Department ordered residents in affluent Pacific Palisades to leave the area immediately as firefighters sought to slow the spread of a nearly 3,000-acre blaz