site.btaNo Bulgarians Reported Injured in LA Fires, Getty Villa Museum Exhibition Safe

So far no information has been received by the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles about Bulgarian citizens injured by the local fire, the diplomatic mission said on its Facebook page about the fires in the megalopolis, which killed at least two people and injured dozens. More than 1,000 buildings have already burned. An evacuation order has been issued for more than 37,000 people because of the fires, which are out of control, reports the Associated Press.

The fire is burning next to the Getty Villa Museum, where the exhibition "Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania, and Greece" is on display.

The Consulate General of Bulgaria in Los Angeles reported that the Getty Villa's buildings are safe and there is no impact from the fire on them at last count. The galleries are in good condition, and most exhibits are in their own cases, whose microclimate protects them. The Consulate General also quoted a message from Timothy Potts, Director of the J. Paul Getty Museum, who provided an update on the situation at the Getty Villa.

“While some trees and plants on the Villa property have burned, the buildings, including the Museum and all galleries, have not been affected. All the Villa's collections and exhibition loans remain safe, and there is therefore no need to move any objects from their present locations and installations. The collection and exhibition galleries have been sealed off by our state-of-the-art air handling systems. Getty staff have examined all the galleries today and everything is in order.

Getty emergency staff (including Security and Facilities departments) have been present at the Villa site since yesterday (Tuesday) morning, throughout the evening and today (Wednesday), and continue to monitor the situation by regular inspections of the site and cameras located throughout the buildings and galleries. Getty leadership is working closely with teams from the Los Angeles Fire Department who are onsite to suppress any further minor spot fires or other issues. The Villa will remain closed at least through Monday, January 13,” Tomothy Potts said.

On Wednesday, the Bulgarian Culture Ministry reported that all necessary measures have been taken to protect the valuables in the exhibition "Ancient Thrace and the Classical World. Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania and Greece" in Los Angeles from the fires raging in the area.