California wildfires destroy celebrities’ homes, Hollywood landmarks UPDATED / PHOTO

09 January 2025 16:13

Wildfires ravaging the Los Angeles area have destroyed multiple celebrity homes and disrupted Hollywood's busy awards season.

Celebrities such as Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton, and Carrie Elwes have lost their residences, while others, including Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck, and Tom Hanks, await news on their properties’ fate, Caliber.az reports via foreign media.

California firefighters continue battling the fires, with strong winds exacerbating the situation. At least 70,000 residents are under evacuation orders, and nearly 30,000 structures are at risk. The fires have destroyed iconic landmarks, including the historic Will Rogers ranch and parts of the Palisades Charter High School.

In response to the crisis, various Hollywood events have been postponed, including the Critics Choice Awards and film premieres. Major studios, including Universal Studios and Disney, have halted production on several series and closed operations, adding to the disruption of Los Angeles' entertainment industry.

Celebrity social media posts reflect the emotional toll, with many expressing gratitude for survival while mourning the loss of their homes and communities. As of now, the fire remains uncontained, leaving a trail of devastation across the city.

14:17

As a result of widespread wildfires in California, more than 366,000 residents have been left without power, according to data from the monitoring resource.

The most affected area is Los Angeles County, where nearly 200,000 people are without electricity, Caliber.Az reports.

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Wildfires surrounding Los Angeles intensified on January 8, spreading to the iconic Hollywood Hills, leaving devastation in their wake.

At least five people have been killed, and hundreds of homes destroyed as the fires continue to rage across the region. Dry, hurricane-force winds have hindered firefighting efforts, pushing both resources and water supplies to the brink, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

Over 100,000 people have been ordered to evacuate as the flames, which began on January 7, have already scorched thousands of acres. The Palisades Fire, on the west side of the city, has consumed 15,832 acres and destroyed hundreds of structures, including a property reportedly owned by Hollywood actors Leighton Meester and Adam Brody. The fire spread rapidly from Topanga Canyon to the Pacific Ocean, leaving behind smoldering ruins in the Pacific Palisades area.

Aerial footage from KTLA showed entire blocks of homes reduced to ashes, with the smoky grid of the area broken by the sporadic orange glow of active flames.

Further east, the Eaton Fire in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains claimed another 10,600 acres and 1,000 structures, while tragically claiming at least five lives. As of January 8, nearly 300,000 homes and businesses in Los Angeles County lost power, down from almost 1 million earlier in the day.

School closures have been announced throughout the county, with cancellations expected at least through January 9.

The overwhelming scale of the fires has stretched firefighting crews to their limits. Firefighters from six states are being dispatched to California, and an additional 250 engine companies, with 1,000 personnel, are being moved from Northern to Southern California in an attempt to contain the blazes.

January 8, 5:33 p.m.

A string of multiple wildfires in Los Angeles that are raging simultaneously forced over 30,000 people to evacuate as flames have burned over 1,000 hectares of land. Highways were gridlocked with fleeing residents from burning buildings in the upscale coastal Pacific area.

Multiple people have been injuried by the fires, which have erupted in the Palisades, Altadena and Sylmar neighbourhoods, Caliber.Az reports citing Western media.

All fires are located between Santa Monica and Malibu, an area famous for being home to many Hollywood actors and celebrities, who have also been among the evacuated.

Californian Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as containment efforts struggled. Over 220,000 homes and businesses have lost power on January 7 as the fires intensified. Experts told the publication that low humidity, dry vegetation, and strong winds created severe perfect conditions for such fires to spread.

The crisis also impacted President Joe Biden’s travel plans, grounding the presidential airplane, Air Force One in Los Angeles. Biden had planned to travel inland to announce two new national monuments but had to adapt due to the fire and wind conditions. The president told reporters that a federal grant had already been approved to help reimburse the state of California for its fire response, while Governor Newsom emphasized that resources, including personnel, firetrucks, and aircraft, had been deployed across Southern California to address the widespread danger.