Hollywood celebrities Paris Hilton, Mandy Moore, Hailey Bieber, Chris Pratt, James Woods and Billy Crystal are among the thousands who lost their homes to wildfires raging across Los Angeles. The fires, that started on Tuesday and entered its second day of engulfing the city, have claimed five lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
The largest wildfire in LA's history has consumed at least 12,000 acres in Pacific Palisades, a neighbourhood between Malibu and Santa Monica. The picturesque place is home to many celebrities. In the Hollywood Hills, an area synonymous with the entertainment industry, a fire erupted on Wednesday evening and spread in no time.
The Sunset fire, as per Reuters, burned just above Hollywood Boulevard and its Walk of Fame. The Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory further up in the hills are only a short distance from the region in flames. The Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are conducted, is also located in that area.
"It's All Gone"
Actress Paris Hilton said she was "heartbroken beyond words". In a post on X, Hilton wrote, "Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience."
The day after James Woods evacuated his house in Pacific Palisades, he said in an interview with CNN, "it's all gone". "We were literally in the exact epicenter of the fire as it started," Woods, known for roles in Ghosts of Mississippi and Any Given Sunday, said.
The Oscar-nominated songwriter Diane Warren also lost her beach house of nearly 30 years to the fire. In an Instagram post, she wrote, "There’s a rainbow shining on it which I’m taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy,” she wrote. “The animals and the rescue ranch are OK tho which is the most important thing. Stay safe everyone."
The actress of TV series This is Us, Mandy Moore evacuated her home with her family because of the proximity of the fires. "So gutted for the destruction and loss. Don't know if our place made it," ," she wrote on Instagram.
Film Permits Revoked
Film permits were revoked in Pasadena and areas east of Los Angeles at the request of fire officials, according to FilmLA.
FilmLA, the permitting agency for shoots in Los Angeles, issued a notification that “personnel resources ordinarily available to support film production may not be available during the local State of Emergency.”
"This suspension will hold through Tuesday, January 14th, 2025," FilmLA said in the statement.
Firefighters battling the wildfires have faced water shortages, forcing them to draw water from swimming pools and ponds. According to officials, three one-million-gallon tanks were fully stocked before the fires started, but the high elevation of the affected areas prevented water from reaching hydrants quickly enough.
