How Did Getty Villa Survive Pacific Palisades Fire While Neighbors Burned?

A Los Angeles museum appeared to have been saved from raging wildfires Wednesday as the fast-growing Palisades Fire crept toward it Tuesday.

Staff at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades were praised for their work in preparing the world-renowned property to avoid catastrophic damage as the fire ripped through nearby homes and businesses.

Why It Matters

The museum, part of the J. Paul Getty Trust, is home to the organization’s collection of Ancient Greek and Roman art. Other cultural centers in the area were also threatened by the fire, which had burned more than 2,900 acres as of Wednesday morning and was moving quickly.

What To Know

The Getty Villa is closed on Tuesdays, and that is when the Palisades Fire began approaching fast. Non-essential staff were sent home, while a small team remained on site to manage the emergency situation.

Aerial footage showed the fire spreading onto the land, with some trees and vegetation catching fire. The recreated Roman villa, which often hosts high-profile events among the art, remained unharmed.

According to Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, the museum was saved because of “extensive efforts” to clear brush from the site over the past year.

“Additional fire prevention measures in place at the Villa include water storage on-site. Irrigation was immediately deployed throughout the grounds Tuesday morning,” Fleming said in a statement.

“Museum galleries and library archives were sealed off from smoke by state-of-the-art air handling systems. The double-walled construction of the galleries also provides significant protection for the collections.”

Other buildings were not so lucky, with multiple structures seen burning. Other cultural institutions were also at risk, including the Eames House, Villa Aurora and the Thomas Mann House.

Multiple homes belonging to celebrities were also among the 1,000-plus structures damaged or destroyed. Tens of thousands of people were evacuated across the Los Angeles area, while at least two were killed.

What People Are Saying

Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, in her statement: “We deeply appreciate the tireless work and dedication of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and other agencies, and also the small team of Getty staff who have remained on-site at the Villa supporting emergency response efforts. We again express our heartfelt concern to our neighbors in the Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and surrounding areas affected by the fires.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom, on X: “California is mobilizing an unprecedented number of local and state resources to fight the fires in Los Angeles. We’re prioritizing every effort to protect the lives and communities in this critical state.”

What Happens Next

The Getty Villa will remain closed until at least early next week, the Trust said on its social media platforms. Its center in Brentwood will also remain closed until at least January 12.