Should you cancel your LA trip because of the wildfires?

A week on from the outbreak of devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, it might be tempting to think it must be all over by now. But almost daily warnings of high winds show the worst is not over for LA’s residents.

For visitors, there has been no official message from Californian authorities requesting to stay away. The UK foreign office simply says, “‘Fast-spreading wildfires are currently active within Los Angeles County. You should monitor local media and follow the advice of the local authorities.”

So if you’ve got to travel to, through or from Los Angeles soon, is it safe to go?

Are flights cancelled at LAX?

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) typically sees around 700 flights a day. It’s around 17 km from the blaze at the Palisades but has remained open throughout the crisis. 

A statement on the airport’s website reads, “​​LAX is open and operating normally. Passengers should check their flight status directly with their airline.”

No unusual delays have been noted at LAX, with all services operating normally, although some passengers have had a birds-eye view of the devastation.

Several airlines are not charging passengers to change their flights. These include major US carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Southwest and JetBlue are not charging fees either.

Aside from LAX, nearby airports at Hollywood Burbank, Ontario and Santa Ana John Wayne also remain open and are also covered by the airlines’ fee waivers. Similarly, flights have not been delayed because of the fires, although the high winds caused some disruption last week.

If there were any danger related to flying from LAX, the FAA and airport authority would stop the flights. As such, it is safe to fly to and from Los Angeles right now, but whether you want to is another matter.

Is it safe to visit Los Angeles?

Depending on where you plan to go, some areas are not at all safe to visit. The wildfires are concentrated in the north of the city, with the largest fire in the Palisades consuming more than 97,000 square metres. 

Other areas of LA County have also been affected, including near tourist hotspot Sunset Boulevard. 

A health emergency was declared on 11 January over the smoke. Some water supplies have been contaminated, and people have been warned not to swim in the sea. Wildfire smoke is incredibly hazardous to health, with even brief exposure leading to long-term, serious conditions.

In terms of amenities, DoorDash has suspended services to affected areas and many businesses are closed. Emergency services are overrun with trying to manage the crisis and many local events have been cancelled or moved.

Is Disneyland in LA closed?

As of 15 January, some of the major attractions that remain closed include:

• Warner Bros. Studio

• The Getty Center

• The Hammer Museum

• The Natural History Museum

• The Museum of Contemporary Art

• The Hollywood sign and hiking trails

Disneyland and Universal Studios remain open. Disney issued a statement last week explaining, “If you’re planning a Disneyland vacation, there’s no need to cancel unless you intend to spend a significant portion of your trip in the LA area.”

Airbnb is offering free short-term accommodation for displaced residents, but demand has been high. Losing money on non-refundable accommodation stings, but as someone probably needs that room, the best advice is to call your hotel and explain the situation.

More details on help being offered by the travel industry.

Is it safe to drive in Los Angeles?

Traffic in the city has alleviated a great deal since the first evacuation jams last week. However, many roads are closed, and closures are often happening at very short notice. 

Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, is regularly updating drivers via social media regarding which roads are closed. It has advised car drivers to “limit your non-essential travel and stay away” from the affected areas.

While there hasn’t been an official order not to drive in LA County, KQED reports that councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson said in a press conference on Wednesday, “If there is not a good reason for you to be on the roads, we ask that you leave the roads open as possibly as you can to the public safety professionals that have to do their work and will lead us out of the crisis that we face.”

Tens of thousands of people are currently displaced from their homes, and will be using the roads to return home at some point. Similarly, if another fire breaks out or spreads, the roads will quickly jam up with evacuating residents.

Is public transport running in LA?

The LA Metro and Amtrack are running, but are targeting their services at those affected by the wildfires. 

LA Metro is providing free fares systemwide until the wildfires are under control. Its website states, “We are running with a few service impacts to some bus lines due to wildfires. All rail lines are running regular service. We’re also continuing to provide free fares systemwide while fire conditions exist.”

Amtrak is also supporting the evacuation effort, offering $10 (€11) fares for travel anywhere between San Diego and San Luis Obispo until 24 January.

Over 100,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders in Los Angeles County, and a further 89,000 are under evacuation warnings. Many will be relying on the buses and trains to get in and out of the city.

As well as being busy, the situation with public transport can change rapidly. Cancellations and closures will be enacted with little notice to keep travellers safe, so bear this in mind if you plan to travel by bus or train.

How to find out the current status of the Los Angeles wildfires

If your trip isn’t for a few days or even weeks, you may want to check in on the current situation nearer the time. The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection hosts a live, real-time dashboard showing where the fires are, and how well contained they are.

It also shows which areas are covered by the red flag warning. This is a forecast warning issued by the National Weather Service in the US to inform when conditions are ripe for wildfire combustion. 

While an area is under a red flag warning, residents, firefighters and land management agencies will be on high alert. That’s not to say you shouldn’t visit, but if you do, it’s important to be aware that the authorities and local people will be incredibly busy and stressed.