As wildfires ravage Los Angeles, Universal Studios Hollywood has announced its temporary closure.
The Los Angeles area is currently grappling with multiple blazes, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate as firefighters contend with high winds – including gusts of up to 100 mph – and dangerous conditions.
Although the park is not directly threatened by the flames, Universal Studios Hollywood and its neighboring shopping and dining district Universal CityWalk have temporarily halted operations to prioritize the safety of guests and employees.
Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk will be closed today as a result of the extreme winds and fire conditions. We will continue to assess the situation and expect to open for business tomorrow. The safety of our team members and our guests is our top priority.
Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk will be closed today as a result of the extreme winds and fire conditions. We will continue to assess the situation and expect to open for business tomorrow. The safety of our team members and our guests is our top priority.
— Universal Studios Hollywood (@UniStudios) January 8, 2025
Update on Los Angeles Wildfires
The fires include the Pacific Palisades blaze, which has scorched over 2,900 acres, the Hurst fire at 500 acres, and the rapidly spreading Eaton fire in Altadena, which reached 1,000 acres in a matter of hours. The high winds have exacerbated the crisis, leading to Los Angeles declaring a state of emergency in Los Angeles.
At the time of writing, the Pacific Palisades fire alone is thought to have destroyed over 1,000 structures and the blaze is reportedly 0% contained, with smoke plumes stretching over 100 miles into the Pacific Ocean. A fourth fire has reportedly also broken out in the Sepulveda Basin west of Van Nuys.
A smoke advisory has also been issued along from the Malibu Coast to Santa Monica, spanning east to Pasadena, until later this afternoon.
A History of Wildfires and Southern California’s Theme Parks
Southern California is no stranger to fires, nor is Universal Studios Hollywood, which experienced a significant fire in 2008. That incident, caused by a worker’s blowtorch, devastated a three-acre portion of the backlot. The flames destroyed the King Kong Encounter, thousands of archived digital and film materials, and irreplaceable audio master tapes. A 2019 exposé revealed the scale of the cultural loss, estimated at up to 175,000 master recordings.
This latest closure highlights the ongoing challenges posed by wildfires to the region’s iconic attractions. Disneyland Resort in Anaheim also felt the proximity of wildfires last September, with flames visible from the Disneyland Hotel.
For now, Universal Studios hopes to reopen tomorrow (January 9) but will continue to reassess the conditions.
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops.
