Environment

Los Angeles Wildfires Devastate Celebrities' Homes and Communities

Thursday 09 January 2025 - 11:33

Wildfires in Los Angeles have ravaged over 1,000 buildings, including the homes of numerous celebrities. Among the victims are actors Leighton Meester, Adam Brody, and Billy Crystal. These fires have forced over 100,000 people to evacuate, impacting affluent areas like Pacific Palisades, a neighborhood home to many prominent figures in film, television, and music. The largest fire has burned nearly 12,000 acres in Pacific Palisades, an area located between Santa Monica and Malibu.

Meester and Brody, who purchased their home in 2019 for $6.5 million, and Crystal, a longtime resident of the area, expressed their heartbreak but showed resilience in the face of disaster. Celebrity journalist Maria Shriver, who also lost her home, described the damage as "devastating," with her neighborhood and favorite restaurants gone. Actor James Woods, who evacuated his Pacific Palisades home, recalled how the fire was so intense that “every house around us was on fire.”

In Hollywood Hills, a fire broke out on Wednesday evening, threatening iconic locations such as the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held. Despite being smaller in size compared to the fires in Pacific Palisades, it quickly spread, leading to evacuations and disruptions to events, including the postponement of the Oscar nominations and the Critics Choice Awards.

The destruction also affected the Malibu area, where Paris Hilton's beachfront mansion was destroyed by the flames. Hilton expressed her heartbreak, saying watching her home burn on live TV was a traumatic experience. Several other fires continue to burn across the city, forcing film productions to halt in some areas, including popular TV shows and movie premieres.

In response to the chaos, actor Mark Hamill shared his experience of evacuating his Malibu home, describing the fire as the "most horrific" he had ever seen. As the fires continue to spread, residents, including celebrities, remain on edge, hoping for safety and recovery.