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A growing brush fire was threatening hundreds of homes in Brentwood and other Westside hillside communities, burning several structures and prompting widespread evacuations.

The fire broke out along the 405 Freeway near the Getty Center and was spreading to the south and west. The mandatory evacuation zone was set for west of the 405 from Mandeville Canyon Road to Sunset Boulevard. Mount St. Mary’s University was surrounded by flames and was being evacuated.

“We have an active and growing brush fire on the west side of the 405 Freeway, north of Sunset Blvd,” the Los Angeles Fire Department said in an advisory. “For those living in this area, you must be prepared to evacuate from Mulholland down to Sunset and from the 405 to the PCH.”

“This is a very dynamic situation due to high winds and information is quickly developing,” the Fire Department said. “Stay vigilant.”

Evacuation centers have been opened at the Westwood Recreation Center and the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center, which allows small pets.

At least 75 acres have burned and the acreage is expected to grow, said Margaret Stewart, a Fire Department spokeswoman. An unknown number of structures have been damaged by fire. Helicopters and aircraft were making night drops along the fire line.

The fire was threatening some of Los Angeles most expensive neighborhoods. Among those evacuated was Lakers star LeBron James, who said on Twitter: “Had to emergency evacuate my house and I’ve been driving around with my family trying to get rooms. No luck so far!

The California Highway Patrol advised motorists to avoid the 405 through the Sepulveda Pass. Portions of Sepulveda Boulevard was also closed.

“People in the area … are advised to prepare to evacuate due to a rapidly moving brush fire,” the Fire Department said in a statement posted on Nixle.

The blaze erupted shortly before 2 a.m. Monday.

A video posted on Twitter by Flavio Chávez showed flames burning on one side of the freeway.

In Southern California, a Santa Ana wind event began Sunday night and was expected to last through Monday with isolated gusts of up to 60 mph in the Los Angeles County mountains and humidity levels as low as 5%, causing officials to issue red-flag warnings.

“Potential for very rapid fire spread, long range spotting and extreme fire behavior with any new fire ignitions,” the National Weather Service said.

Temperatures in the area were about 59 degrees. Around 2:30 a.m., winds in the Sepulveda Pass area seemed to be calm, but humidity levels were about 12% and winds in the central Santa Monica Mountains were blowing about 10 mph to 20 mph.