Woolsey Fire Burns 83% Of Santa Monica Mountains Parkland

AGOURA HILLS, CA – The Woolsey Fire has destroyed a devastating 83 percent of the national parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, a tragic loss for nature enthusiasts and locals alike, it was reported Tuesday.

The Santa Monica Mountains stretch from Hollywood Hills to Point Mugu in Ventura County, offering visitors a plethora of hiking trails, waterfalls and rock pools, the Los Angeles Times reported. The deadly Woolsey Fire destroyed the historic park, decimating the markers of its rich history as a backdrop for movies and television shows like "Planet of the Apes," the newspaper reported.

It also engulfed the set of the long-running series "MASH" and the Paramount Ranch western town, which was the filming scene for hundreds of movies and TV shows over the years, including more recently HBO's "Westworld." In a Twitter post, park officials said they "do not have any details or photos, but it is our understanding that the structures have burned."

The blaze has consumed 97,620 acres since it ignited last Thursday in Ventura County, killing three people, destroying 483 structures and damaging another 86. The Woolsey Fire is at 47 percent containment Wednesday, although the area continues to be hit by winds expected to gust as high as 40 mph. Full containment is expected by Sunday.

An estimated 57,000 structures are still under threat by the flames, and the fire has forced the evacuation of more than 265,000 people in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

PHOTO: MALIBU, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Destroyed houses are seen with the Santa Monica Mountains in the background on November 12, 2018 in Malibu, California, as the Woolsey Fire continues to burn. Multiple fires are burning throughout the state claiming dozens of lives and hundreds of structures. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)