Getty Center Closes After Fire Breaks Out Along Los Angeles’s 405 Freeway
The Getty Center in Los Angeles closed early on Wednesday after a fire broke out along the 405 Freeway, prompting an evacuation warning that included the museum complex. The Los Angeles Times reported the fire was called in at 4:30 p.m. and had burned five acres, while CBS News said the Getty asked visitors to exit via the parking garage and closed at 4:45 p.m. The blaze, already being referred to as the “Getty Fire,” threatened an area that includes the Getty’s museum buildings, the Getty Research Institute, and a Robert Irwin–designed garden, though damage was not immediately confirmed. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged residents in the area to prepare to evacuate if conditions worsened. The article notes prior nearby fires, including a 2019 wildfire that burned 745 acres, and highlights architect Richard Meier’s fire-conscious design features such as crushed rock roofing and a travertine exterior.
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This story was covered in Prize Glory, Museum Turmoil, and Royalty Revolts