The Getty fire has burned 745 acres and was 39% contained as of Wednesday night. Investigators believe the blaze was started by a tree branch that fell on power lines.

Location:

The fire broke out near the Getty Center along the 405 Freeway about 1:30 a.m. Monday and spread quickly into hillside neighborhoods. Twelve homes have been destroyed and five have been damaged in the fire.

Evacuations:


The mandatory evacuation zone was described by fire officials as a box: the area just south of Mountaingate Avenue on the north side, the 405 on the east, Sunset Boulevard on the south and Kenter Avenue on the west.

Road closures:

All roads that were closed by the fire had reopened by Wednesday night, except for the Skirball Center Drive offramp of the northbound 405 Freeway, which will remain closed until further notice. The southbound lanes of Sepulveda Boulevard between Skirball Center Drive and Sunset Boulevard are open only to residents with identification.


Evacuation centers:

• Westwood Recreation Center (1350 S. Sepulveda Blvd.)

• Palisades Recreation Center (851 Alma Real Drive)

For animals:


• West Valley Animal Shelter (20655 Plummer St.)

• West L.A. Animal Shelter (11361 W. Pico Blvd.)

• Hanson Dam Recreation Area (large animals)

School closures:


These Los Angeles Unified School District and charter school campuses will be closed through Thursday:



Discovery Charter Preparatory

Kentner Canyon Elementary

Palisades Charter High School

Topanga Elementary Charter School

These Los Angeles Unified School District and charter campuses will be open Thursday, though outside activities may be limited:

Brentwood Elementary

Brockton Elementary

Canyon Elementary

Community Magnet

Emerson Middle School

Fairburn Elementary

Marquez Elementary

Palisades Elementary

Revere Middle School

Roscomare Elementary

Nora Sterry Elementary

Topanga Elementary

University High School Charter

Warner Elementary

Westwood Elementary

Magnolia Science Academy 4 and 6

The Archer School for Girls, a private school located inside the Getty fire mandatory evacuation zone, will remain closed Thursday, according to school officials.

College campuses:

Santa Monica College closed the campus Monday but resumed classes and campus operations Tuesday. UCLA also resumed classes Tuesday.


Conditions:

Firefighters worked Wednesday to put out hot spots and flare-ups. Weather conditions remained the biggest challenge. The strongest Santa Ana winds of the season arrived in Southern California late Tuesday. Gusts of up to 78 mph were recorded at Boney Peak in the Santa Monica Mountains in Ventura County on Wednesday afternoon, while relative humidity fell to rock bottom.

The wind speeds prompted the National Weather Service to issue an extreme red-flag warning, cautioning the public of high potential for “very rapid fire spread, long-range spotting and extreme fire behavior with any new fire ignitions.” The warning remains in effect through 6 p.m. Thursday.

Times staff writers Sonali Kohli and Alex Wigglesworth contributed to this report.