Wind-whipped fires tore through Los Angeles on Tuesday and through the night in what will likely be one of the worst disasters to hit the sprawling metropolitan area. The flames showed little sign of abating on Wednesday, and officials stressed that the danger would continue.
Pushed by an extreme wind event with gusts reaching up to 99-miles an hour, the fires spread across multiple neighborhoods, dense with houses, restaurants and other businesses, and officials are estimating that more than 1,000 structures have been impacted.
At least five deaths have been reported, according to the New York Times. And city and county officials have indicated there are many injuries, including both residents and first responders.
One of the largest fires was in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, with houses nestled in the hills near the ocean, expanding into neighboring Santa Monica and Malibu. Another crawled through Pasadena, and a third hit the western San Fernando Valley.
Tens of thousands have been evacuated—some so panicked, they abandoned their cars on the congested roads—and many in the city were without power early Wednesday.
It is likely many restaurants have been impacted or were without power on Wednesday.
Social media reports indicate Duke’s Malibu, one of the few restaurants on the beach in Malibu, was reportedly in danger after initially serving as a staging ground for burn victims. The Reel Inn, another iconic seafood spot across from the Pacific Coast Highway was also reported to be destroyed, according to the Malibu Times.
Sweetgreen CEO and co-founder Jonathan Neman posted that the chain’s restaurants in the Pasadena, Santa Monica, Brentwood, Westwood and Montana neighborhoods of Los Angeles would be closed temporarily on Wednesday.
“My thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted by the fires across SoCal,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “Grateful for our firefighters and praying for everyone’s safety given these unprecedented and devastating conditions.”
Sam Polk, CEO of the Los Angeles-based Everytable, also said the chain would be providing emergency meals to shelters and fire departments.
Other chains, like the sandwich chain Ggiata Delicatessen, were planning to offer food and support to evacuees, firefighters and other first responders where needed.
Restaurants like Cassia in Santa Monica also announced they would be closed Wednesday for the safety of team members and guests. Porto’s Bakery also closed two units temporarily because of power loss.
The Los Angeles Times has posted a running list of restaurants across the city offering food, discounts and shelter to those impacted.
World Central Kitchen is also on site providing sandwiches and water to evacuation points.
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