The Sunset fire began burning in the Hollywood Hills between Runyon Canyon and Wattles Park on Wednesday evening, Jan. 8. The fire, one of several that have been devasating large swaths of Los Angeles County since Tuesday amid strong winds, erupted at around 5:30 p.m. and has burned more than 19 acres as of 6:30 p.m., according to ABC7. The blaze was estimated initially at 10 acres, but it has grown rapidly, to about 60 acres around 8:30 p.m., according to Cal Fire. • Also see: This map shows where the Sunset fire is burning in the Hollywood Hills A mandatory evacuation order is now in effect for Laurel Canyon Boulevard (western boundary), to Mulholland Drive (northern boundary), to the 101 Freeway (eastern boundary), down to Hollywood Boulevard (southern boundary). Margaret Stewart, spokesperson for LAFD, advised residents to evacuate to the south. The area is near tightly packed homes in Hollywood Heights and the West Hollywood area. The embers from the from the fire have made it to some neighborhood north of Franklin and Vista, according to ABC7. The Hollywood Courthouse, 5925 Hollywood Blvd., will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 9, because of the fire, the Los Angeles Superior Court said in a Wednesday evening press release. The city has opened an emergency shelter at the Pan Pacific Recreational Center, 7600 Beverly Blvd., Mayor Karen Bass tweeted Wednesday evening. LAFD crews ordered several road closures in the area, including a shutdown of popular Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Crescent Heights Boulevard. LAPD officers were responding to Hollywood to help ease evacuation traffic, Bass tweeted at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday. “We are working urgently to close roads, redirect traffic and expand access for LAFD vehicles to respond to the growing fire,” she wrote. More than 20 fire engines were assisting with firefighting efforts, Stewart said. Multiple water-dropping aircraft were being used in hopes of slowing the fire’s advance. There was no immediate word as to how the fire began. Staff writer Christina Merino and City News Service contributed to this report. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Southern California wildfires add to growing worries about homeowner insurance Crime and Public Safety | ‘Like you’re on a different planet:’ Malibu left decimated by Palisades fire Crime and Public Safety | ‘Big one we all feared’: Wildfires devastate Southern California Crime and Public Safety | This map shows where the Sunset fire is burning in the Hollywood Hills Crime and Public Safety | How a rare windstorm whipped up LA County’s catastrophic hellscape