California wildfires temporarily shut down production of HBO show

HBO has suspended filming for one of its shows in southern California over safety concerns about wildfires raging in the area.

The network halted production of its show “Westworld” on Tuesday when wildfires neared its filming location in Los Angeles County, it told CNN in a statement. CBS has also had to suspend filming its show “S.W.A.T.” 

Los Angeles County is currently facing two major fires as of Tuesday: the 11,000-acre Creek Fire and the 1,000-acre Rye Fire. Officials in nearby Ventura County have issued a mandatory evacuation of 27,000 people as the wind-driven Thomas Fire spread to the Pacific town. 

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Writers for the CBS show said Tuesday the delay in filming at their location 40 miles outside Los Angeles was due to poor air quality. 

Neither network has announced when filming of their shows will resume, CNN reported. HBO said production on “Westworld” would continue “as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

Authorities are warning of “extreme fire danger” in the “multi-day event” that could last until Thursday amid strong coastal winds and a dry spell in the region.