Palisades Fire explodes in size, mandatory evacuation orders expand 6.50 p.m. The fast-growing wind-whipped Palisades Fire has more than doubled in size since the last update from Cal Fire, as mandatory evacuation orders expand across the Santa Monica Mountain.

The Santa Ana winds fueling the 1,200-acre Palisades Fire and the 400 acre Eaton Fire will get worse in the next few hours as the strongest winds are expected to peak in the overnight hours and likely worsen firefighting conditions.

Fearsome winds forced crews to ground firefighting aircraft in the battle against the Palisades fire on Tuesday night.