By Lookout Staff

January 9, 2025 -- A curfew is now in place for the mandatory evacuation zone North of Montana Avenue, as Santa Monica residents are being urged to stay indoors with smoke from the Pacific Palisades fire approaching unhealthy levels.

The sunset-to-sunrise curfew affects the approximately 2,472 households in the mandatory evacuation zone -- which includes the area North of San Vicente Boulevard and south to Montana Avenue between 11th Street and PCH.

The curfew was imposed as part of an emergency order signed by City Manager David White late Wednesday to support evacuation efforts and protect property, White said in a statement.

“The local emergency order provides Santa Monica Police and our mutual aid (law enforcement) partners another tool to continue to protect our community,” City Manager White said.

“Our first responders are out patrolling, staying vigilant and coordinating with our partners throughout this emergency on all fronts.

"The order helps us ensure nobody enters impacted areas who is not supposed to, particularly those with nefarious intentions attempting to take advantage of the mandatory evacuations.”

In addition to imposing a curfew, the local emergency order:

Allows impacted schools to temporarily operate within non-residential zones in Santa Monica;

Suspends preferential parking rules and enforcement for residents providing accommodations for those displaced by the Palisades Fire;

Prohibits price gouging for emergency and recovery goods and services;

Restricts evictions of residential tenants who provide accommodation to those displaced by evacuation orders, including their pets, and

Prohibits construction activities in evacuation areas and allows for extended time to complete the work.

In addition to the Evacuation Order, a voluntary evacuation warning has been issued for another 8,338 households north of Wilshire Boulevard to Montana Avenue from 10th Street to PCH and north of Montana Ave between 26th Street and 11th Street.

City officials are urging residents to stay indoors as "current air quality levels are reaching unhealthy levels in some parts of the city." For updated air quality information, visit Fire.AirNow.gov.

Public schools in Santa Monica, as well as Malibu, will be closed Friday, District officials said.

"Due to ongoing safety concerns, evacuations, continued fire threats and poor air quality, all SMMUSD schools in Santa Monica and Malibu will remain closed Friday," District officials said.

"The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families remain our highest priority."

District officials will "monitor conditions closely and provide an update on plans for Monday when all factors are considered over the weekend."

To view the City's emergency order, click HERE.

For the latest updates on Santa Monica evacuation orders, services and resources visit Santamonica.gov.