Via – The LA Times

A growing brush fire was threatening thousands of homes in Brentwood and other hillside communities on the westside of Los Angeles, burning homes and prompting widespread evacuations early Monday.

The Getty fire broke out shortly after 1:30 a.m. along the 405 Freeway near the Getty Center and spread to the south and west, rapidly burning more than 500 acres and sending people fleeing from their homes in the dark. About 10,000 structures have been placed under mandatory evacuation orders.

The mandatory evacuation zone was described by fire officials as a box: Mulholland Drive on the north side, the 405 on the east, Sunset Boulevard on the south and Temescal Canyon Road on the west.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas said despite firefighters efforts at least five homes, including some on Tigertail Road, have been destroyed in the blaze. That number will likely climb in the coming hours.

Mayor Eric Garcetti urged residents to leave if they’re under mandatory evacuation orders, saying some residents had only 15 minutes to flee.

“Get out when we say get out,” he said, urging homeowners to not try to fight the fire with garden hoses. “The only thing you cannot replace is you and your family.”

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