Here we go again

[rachelmanija]

I'm in Culver City, which is not in the evacuation zone or evacuation warning zone. Here's the fire department map. The LA Times has lifted its paywall for fire coverage, so you can follow it there.

I wonder if the Getty Museum is starting to consider relocating. It would be an absolutely insane expense and it's an incredibly beautiful structure, but it's full of irreplaceable works of art and it's looking inevitable that if it stays where it is, it will eventually burn down.

Comments

[sholio]

YIIIIKES, that is terrifyingly close even if you're out of the evac zone!

[rachelmanija]

It's close geographically but there's a huge fire barrier of a ton of fire-resistant stuff (concrete and not much vegetation) between us.

Check out the #GettyFire tag on Twitter for a bazillion videos of the 405 hills on fire. You will recognize the area.

[sholio]

I recognized it even from the aerial maps - I remember driving through there! Now I'm looking at photos and yikes.

But yeah, I also recognize that there is way too much city for the fire to go through for it to ever get to you. Still, it's got to be horrendously smoky and miserable.

[rachelmanija]

Surprisingly not bad! Though I haven't actually gone outside yet.

[mildred_of_midgard]

Even having a sense of where the concrete jungle begins, looking at that map and realizing that I lived across the street from the Los Angeles National Cemetery is terrifying.

Every time this happens, I find myself wondering about not only the Getty Museum, but the Getty Villa (where I used to go much more often). I'm glad to hear that the curators feel pretty good.

[ekaterinn]

Glad you're safe, but yikes! (My sister moved to the Bay Area a few months ago - she's fine too, but I'm having to learn a lot more about Cali geography these days).

[gwynnega]

I used to work at Getty and had a couple of hair-raising experiences with nearby brush fires. On the other hand, the place is mostly travertine marble, so it's unlikely to burn.

[rachelmanija]

True but I'm concerned about what would happen if a wall of flame basically rolled over it.

[gwynnega]

From having been up close and personal with a brush fire on the edge of the Getty in the past, I'd say people would be in danger, but probably the artwork wouldn't.

[rachelmanija]

Oh, that's good to know.

[dantesspirit]

Embers and fire itself can't get in, maybe, *but smoke can and will find a way*. Sheer heat as well can be just as damaging.

Been there, done that, lost a lot of stuff to smoke damage.

[lilacsigil]

It's so scary, and your fire season is now merging into ours in Australia - usually you send us firies in your winter to help, and we send firies to you in our winter. But not these days. I hope you continue to stay safe.

[lydamorehouse]

When I heard that the fire was near the Getty, I instantly thought, "I remember driving past that with Rachel!" Now, I'm weirdly sad that Mason and I didn't get out there to see the art, particularly since I think you might be right about it's future.... :-(

[hederahelix]

Maybe they can forestall the move for a while with extensive use of goats.

[rachelmanija]

LOLOLOL. Cult goats are the best goats!