The US Department of Veterans Affairs took precautionary measures on Friday night by evacuating veteran residents from its West Los Angeles Medical Center as the Palisades fire continued to pose a threat in the area. The fire, which had started moving towards the Mandeville Canyon region earlier in the day, led to expanded evacuation orders that encompassed parts of the Interstate 405 and the Encino Reservoir, located just blocks away from the VA center.
Although the West Los Angeles Medical Center itself had not received any evacuation warnings or orders at the time, the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System decided to relocate veterans from the Community Living Center on the North Campus as a proactive step to ensure the safety and well-being of the veterans, staff, and visitors. The VA center emphasized that this measure was taken out of an abundance of caution.
The VA center also mentioned that it was collaborating with healthcare partners to provide necessary resources for all affected veterans. However, the statement did not specify the exact number of veterans who were relocated or the destination to which they were moved.
As the Palisades fire continued to spread eastward, prompting more evacuation warnings in the surrounding areas, the VA's decision to evacuate veteran residents highlights the importance of prioritizing the safety of those under its care during emergency situations.
