In the Los Angeles (LA) area of California, the damage caused by simultaneous wildfires is spreading, and the Getty Museum is being highlighted as a textbook case of disaster preparedness.
On the 14th (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that "the Getty Museum took special defenses against the LA wildfires," focusing on its fire defense system. The Getty Museum is located in the Pacific Palisades area, which has suffered the greatest damage from the recent wildfires. WSJ noted that on the first day of the wildfire, on the 7th, flames came within 6 feet (about 1.8m) of the east wall of the Getty Villa, but thanks to meticulous preparations and a swift response, the museum suffered no damage.
The Getty Museum considered fire-resistant structures from the architectural stage. WSJ stated, "Architect Richard Meier finished the Getty Museum in travertine stone to make it difficult for flames to spread," and added, "Additionally, low-flammability plants such as acacia shrubs and oaks were planted, and branches and shrubs were continuously cleared to minimize fire risk." Furthermore, the Getty Museum is equipped with air filtration systems designed to prevent smoke and embers from infiltrating the interior. Fire doors installed between galleries block the spread of fire.
The museum's sprinkler system is also intricately designed. When the wildfire approached closely, the museum's sprinklers activated automatically and moistened the grass. The sprinklers use municipal water in normal conditions but can also draw water from its own tank, which holds 1 million gallons (about 3.785 million liters), and another tank of 50,000 gallons (about 189,270 liters) located at the Getty Villa when needed.
In addition, the swift and systematic actions of the staff were a significant reason for preventing damage from the wildfires. According to WSJ, 45 museum staff work in 24-hour shifts to detect embers and defend against fires. On the first day of the wildfire, staff taped the museum doorframes to block smoke from entering inside.
Catherine Fleming, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Getty Trust, said, "All our systems operated as planned, and both the artworks and we are safe." She is reported to have spent every night at the museum with staff since the wildfire began. The Getty Museum currently maintains all exhibition pieces safely and stated that planned exhibitions are being prepared without disruption.
The Getty Museum previously faced risks during wildfires in 2009 and 2017. Based on these experiences, the museum invested millions of dollars to strengthen its disaster prevention systems, add fire prevention devices to the galleries, and improve building structures. Thanks to these preparations, WSJ explained, the artworks and buildings could be perfectly protected even in this crisis.
Meanwhile, the LA wildfires are difficult to extinguish due to strong winds. As of the previous morning, the containment rate of the wildfire that occurred in Pacific Palisades on the western beach of LA County was 14%, while the Eton fire was at 33%. Currently, more than 92,000 people have evacuated their homes under orders, and approximately 89,000 people have received evacuation readiness warnings.