Much of the heart of Hollywood is covered in thick smoke. You can barely see the tops of the towering palm trees that line the streets here.
The streets near the fire are complete chaos. People use sweatshirts to cover their faces so they can breathe. Many carry bags and suitcases and are looking for somewhere to go.
Some are in pajamas, clearly surprised.
The Sunset fire broke out around 6:00 p.m. (14:00 GMT) on Wednesday, blanketing much of Hollywood in thick smoke and prompting evacuation orders. By midnight local time, the fire had covered an area of 60 acres.
As I was driving in Hollywood, I saw many people running from their homes with whatever they could carry.
When I stopped, some of them responded with fear and concern.
“Are you here to help people? Where should I go?” Anna Waldman asked as I got out of my car.
“Where is it safe?”
Above us, sirens had gone off and helicopter blades were beating.
As I helped her to a safe area, she told me she was walking her dogs and planned to stop by a grocery store when she smelled a strong smell of smoke.
She returned home, looked out her windows and watched as the fire moved quickly through the Hollywood Hills within a block of her home.
She packed what she could: food, clothes, blankets, food for her three small dogs.
“I can't believe it,” she said exhaustedly.
Makayla Jackson, 26, was holding her two-year-old son Ramari on a street corner as they waited for a ride. They were evacuated from a homeless shelter that was in danger of catching fire.
“They just told us to get out and go,” she told me.
She said she is headed to Hollywood High where more help is offered.
Many of the roads near the fire, such as the iconic Hollywood Boulevard, which includes the Hollywood Walk of Fame, are clogged with traffic.
Some even drive on the wrong side of the road to escape.
The inferno was visible from nearby highways, lighting up the darkness with bright red hues.
On the outskirts of the legendary city, however, nothing seems to be happening. People spend their evenings dining, shopping and walking.