BEL AIR—On Wednesday, September 9, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported a brush fire at 4:17 p.m. on the Northbound 405 freeway. Smoke could be billowing in the sky from miles away. As a result, evacuation warning issues for Genasys zones LFD-0895 and LFD-0967 were implemented as a result of the fire.

By 5:49 p.m. the LAFD reported that the brush fire was an estimated at 20 acres. LA County Fire Department assisting with hand crews and helicopters.

By 6:12 p.m. forward progress on the brush fire was stopped at an estimated 25 acres. Approximately 185 LAFD members remain on scene for mop up and containment operations.

At 8:38 p.m., evacuation warnings for the Getty Fire were lifted by the Incident Command. Genasys zones LFD-0895 and LFD-0967 have returned to normal status. Crews will continue working on scene until full containment of the fire is declared. The exact cause of the fire has not been disclosed and there were no reported injuries during the incident.

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Monday, September 7, the popular West Hollywood bar Employees Only announced it will be closing its doors after 8 years. The famed bar will host its final night on September 27,

Employees Only is located at 7953 Santa Monica Blvd. and has served the community of West Hollywood and tourists since April 18, 2018. The bar was originally opened as a second location to the New York location which has been open in New York City since December 2004. Employees Only has been famous for their craft cocktails and lively music, adding to the West Hollywood nightlife scene. 

The closure was announced via the Employees Only Instagram page. 

“We’re incredibly grateful for the people who worked alongside us, supported us, celebrated with us, and brought so much life and joy into this space,” the Instagram post reads. “We still have a few weeks left, and we hope to spend them with the people who have been part of EO along the way. Join us for one last drink before we close our doors on September 27th.”

Employees Only is still open for a few more weeks, with hours ranging from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday and Sunday.

By Ryley Metten

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On September 9, the city of West Hollywood issued a reminder that the Free Theatre in the Parks is returning with Impro Theatre’s play Jane Austen UnScripted. The play will be improvised on the spot based on audience suggestions, and the cast will create a new story for each performance in the style of a Jane Austen novel set in the Regency era. Paul Rogan is directing the play, and it runs 75 minutes.

The first performance is on September 12 at 4 p.m. The show will run for six performances on Saturdays and Sundays through September 27 at Kings Road Park, 1000 North Kings Road.

Jane Austen UnScripted is free to attend.  The seats will go to those who arrive first and can be reserved at the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jane-austen-unscripted-free-theatre-in-the-parks-tickets-1993711901968?aff=oddtdtcreator

For more information about Free Theatre in the Parks, call Joy Tribble, West Hollywood’s Arts Specialist, at (323) 848-6360 or email jtribble@weho.org.

Impro Theater’s goal is to make an impact on the world through performing unscripted theater as well as teaching and expanding storytelling. The city first announced Jane Austen Unscripted on August 18.

By Daniel Diquinzio

BEVERLY HILLS—A three-story apartment building at 232 S. Rexford Drive caught fire around 11 a.m. At one point, most of the structure was seen engulfed in flames. The Beverly Hills Fire Department, along with Los Angeles County Fire and Los Angeles Fire Department units, rushed to the scene and attacked the blaze from the ground, using aerial ladder trucks.

The roof began collapsing as crews fought the fire, according to a Beverly Hills City Instagram post. Firefighters retreated and shifted to fighting the blaze from aerial ladder trucks. Rexford Drive between Charleville Boulevard and Gregory Way has been closed off while crews work.

The cause of the fire is still unknown. The city has ordered students at nearby Beverly Vista Middle School to shelter in place until first responders can get the situation under control. The school itself was not impacted by the fire.

By Milan Manesh

STUDIO CITY—On Tuesday, September 8, the Wildlife Care of Southern California posted on its Facebook page that a coyote that had been known to roam in the Studio City region had to be euthanized because of an infection that caused its face to swell. She was known as Wendy the Coyote and had been living for over a year with this abscess or growth on her face.

WCSC has been tracking WENDY, the Studio City coyote, online since July 14, 2026. On August 7, they gathered enough information to put boots on the ground in 2 specific locations that we could monitor, with the help of the homeowners. Her route of movement within the community is 2 1/2 miles, where she finds water and people most likely feed her, and she was not consistent, making it much more time-consuming and difficult. It was reported on August 31 that she was found and being treated.

On September 1, it was reported Wendy’s possible condition was related to a phone call received a call that a resident in Studio City, approximately 1 year ago, who witnessed Wendy just after she was hit by a car, stumbling around, and her face was definitely where the impact transpired. #1 Photo on September 8 at some point after the accident; it’s unclear how soon after the car accident. The second photo was taken in a homeowner’s yard on Sept 25, 2025. This significant swelling and growth in such a short period is more indicative of a fractured jaw or a broken molar causing infection, which has been draining. A fundraiser was raised to provide care for Wendy that raised more than $6,200 of its $5,000 goal.

The WCSC posted on their Facebook page on September 8 the following statement:

“It is with profound sadness that Wildlife Care of Southern California shares that, following a thorough veterinary examination, our girl was humanely put to rest. This morning’s “sunshine” felt like a quiet reminder of the peace and freedom she will now know. We chose not to include photos of her examination in this memorial because we don’t want those images to be how she is remembered. Today, we chose to remember her for her strength, her fierce will to survive, and the beautiful wild spirit that touched the hearts of people far beyond the community she called home. We will share her exam photos in a follow-up post for those who want to better understand the severity of her condition.
Diagnostic imaging revealed two pellets lodged in her head, indicating that she had been previously shot. The extent of the infection was so significant over time that it had destroyed the upper jawbone on the left side of her face; it was gone.”

The damage was so severe that there was no surgery or treatment capable of restoring normal function. Wendy would have required a soft-food diet for the remainder of her life and for a wild coyote, it meant she could never return to the life and freedom she deserved, even in a captive setting.

“It is difficult to comprehend how much this young coyote endured over the course of the past year. She survived devastating trauma, 2 pellets lodged in her head, and a relentless infection that gradually destroyed part of her jaw—yet she continued adapting, searching for food and fighting to remain alive. This coyote’s remarkable endurance is a powerful testament to a wild animal’s will to survive, even while experiencing unimaginable pain.”

It was determined that her long-term welfare and quality of life meant keeping her “alive under those circumstances would not be humane.”

During the week in the WCSC’s care, she was safe, comfortable, and receiving medication, and surrounded by people who worked tirelessly to help her.

“Thank you to the Predator Healing Project for being there for the animals and our organization. Godspeed little girl,” the WCSC added.

By Danny Jones

TOPANGA CANYON—Topanga Canyon Boulevard will see overnight lane closures for guardrail construction from Tuesday, September 8, through Saturday, September 12. Caltrans crews will work from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night, with one lane remaining open to traffic in both directions.

Construction will take place between Entrado Drive and Pacific Coast Highway. Motorists commuting through the canyon during early morning hours should expect traffic delays and may want to seek an alternate route.

The project aims to improve accessibility and safety for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders and drivers. It will adjust or upgrade about 25,000 feet of guardrail along the 18-mile corridor.

Topanga Canyon Boulevard is a narrow, two-lane road with steep drop offs and cliffside sections in parts of the canyon. Additionally, the road has a documented history of serious and fatal collisions over the years, including multi-vehicle crashes and pedestrian deaths.

Other safety improvements have been made along the highway in recent years including clearing brush at dozens of sites to improve sightlines, upgrading traffic signals, curb ramps and pedestrian buttons, and rebuilding sections of road washed out by the 2025 Palisades Fire.

By Milan Manesh

LOS FELIZ—A large tree collapsed onto two vehicles and their occupants on Sunday, September 6, around 4 p.m. One of the occupants was taken to the hospital and is reported to be in fair condition. Their vehicle sustained heavy damage to the hood and windshield. The incident occurred at the intersection of Vermont Avenue and Melbourne Avenue near the Mac Repair Clinic. Video of the incident was published on Facebook.

Experts believe the tree collapsed due to wet, stormy weather caused by the remnants of Hurricane Marie. The rainfall likely saturated the soil, destabilizing the tree’s roots and causing it to give way. The same storm system caused flooding and slick road conditions that led to crashes across Los Angeles.

According to public records, 311 LA City service requests have been made for tree trimming in the Los Feliz region. It remains unclear whether the incident could have been prevented. Cleanup crews have been called to clear the debris from the roadway.

Residents in areas with mature trees are urged to stay alert during storms and report any leaning, cracked, or unstable trees to 311 as soon as possible. If driving in heavy rain, avoid parking or lingering under large trees and give yourself extra distance from tree lines when conditions are wet.

By Milan Manesh

SANTA MONICA—On September 8, sometime after midnight, he Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACOFD) Lifeguard Division responded to a call for a search and rescue in the 1500 block of Ocean Walk. The search was for a male swimmer who reportedly vanished overnight while swimming at Venice Beach. Initial reports indicate that the man was seen entering the water and never returned. First responders from LACOFD were able to rescue the unidentified male swimmer located on the rocks near the Venice breakwater at approximately 1:00 a.m. Video footage captured at the scene verified that the man was alive. LACOFD personnel helped him onto the gurney. He was then transported to an area hospital for what appeared to be minor injuries. There is no further information known at this time. According to reports, LACOFD lifeguards have performed close to 2,000 ocean water rescues. 1,950 of those were recorded during what LAFD refers to as a “Peak Surge.” It is during times of high surf and heatwaves. In addition, there were 71,274 actions by lifeguards giving warnings to beachgoers. 517 people required first aid, and 749 people were logged by personnel to have needed an Emergency Vehicle, transported by ambulance to an area hospital. By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced there will be a lane closures starting Wednesday, September 9 because of One Beverly Hills construction.

Starting at 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and Thursday, September 10 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., lanes will be reduced on Wilshire Boulevard near Whittier Drive for overnight work to relocate a traffic signal.

Wilshire Boulevard near the Whittier Drive intersection:

-One eastbound lane and the eastbound left turn lane onto Whittier Drive will be closed.
-Two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane will remain open.
-All lanes will return to normal by 6 a.m. Thursday, September 10 and Friday, September 11.

The One Beverly Hills project is currently under construction next to the Beverly Hilton hotel between Wilshire Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. The project includes two condominium towers; an Aman hotel; retail, restaurant, and conference space; and a publicly accessible landscaped open space. Construction is anticipated to be complete in 2028, with some portions of the project opening sooner.

The One Beverly Hills Overlay Specific Plan (“Overlay Specific Plan”) allows for comprehensive redevelopment of the Project Site alternative to that authorized under the existing 9900 Wilshire Specific Plan, Beverly Hilton Specific Plan and existing C-3 zoning. The Overlay Specific Plan proposes residential, retail and hotel, and open space uses. The Overlay Specific Plan would include 1,933,436 SF of total building floor area,340 residential units and 30 accessory spaces for 1,034,645 SF of residential floor area, 600 hotel rooms for 781,559 SF of hotel floor area, 117,232 SF of shared amenity area, 2,179 subterranean parking spaces, and 4.5 acres of public open space.

For more details contact the One Beverly Hills Construction Hotline at (424) 252-1338. For other questions or concerns about the project contact Project Manager Andre Sahakian via email or at 310-285-1121.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu will hold weekly tests of its Everbridge Disaster Notification System, which it has used for several years for life threatening emergencies and evacuations, in September for National Preparedness Month. The next test is Thursday, September 10, 5 p.m. – MAL-C112: Central Malibu.

The city is working hard to prepare – and help residents and businesses be ready – for wildfires, earthquakes, and other disasters. Malibu will conduct Everbridge Disaster Notification System tests in September to a different Malibu Evacuation Zone each week.

Thursday, September 10, 5 p.m. – Zone MAL-C112: Central Malibu
Thursday, September 17, 5 p.m. – Zone MAL-C113: Western Malibu
Thursday, September 24, 5 p.m. – Zone MAL-C114: Far Western Malibu

No sign-up is required for Everbridge, most Malibu copper landlines and cell phones are automatically entered into the Everbridge system. Residents and businesses can create a profile to add additional contact information, street addresses, or secondary phone numbers at: www.MalibuCity.org/DisasterNotifications.

To look up one’s Evacuation Zone visit: www.MalibuCity.org/Evac, and monitor Genasys Protect, the emergency and evacuation information site used by LA County, at: https://Protect.Genasys.com/Search.

Anyone wanting help with Everbridge, or if they do not receive a test message can contact the Public Safety Department at PublicSafety@MalibuCity.org or call 310-456-2489.

By Danny Jones