Wildfires ravage Los Angeles, displacing thousands, halting Hollywood events

Massive wildfires fueled by strong winds and dry conditions swept through Los Angeles on Wednesday, destroying homes and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate, including numerous A-list celebrities. The fires also disrupted major Hollywood events, as firefighters battled relentless flames across multiple fronts.

The Pacific Palisades area, home to multimillion-dollar properties and favored by celebrities, suffered extensive damage. Dozens of homes were reported destroyed. The Altadena region to the east was similarly devastated, while Malibu residents were forced to flee as fires closed in.

Singer and actress Mandy Moore shared her anguish on Instagram after fleeing her Altadena home with her children and pets. “Trying to shield the kids from the immense sadness and worry I feel. Praying for everyone in our beautiful city. So gutted for the destruction and loss. Don’t know if our place made it,” she wrote.

Actor James Woods, an Emmy winner, posted a video on X showing flames near his Pacific Palisades home. Shortly after, he evacuated as fire alarms blared. “I couldn’t believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one,” Woods said.

Meanwhile, Mark Hamill, famed for his role in “Star Wars,” described a harrowing escape from Malibu, where small fires lined the Pacific Coast Highway. “Evacuated Malibu so last-minute there were small fires on both sides of the road as we approached PCH,” he wrote, calling it the “most horrific fire since ’93.”

Hollywood brought to a standstill

The fires forced several high-profile Hollywood events to be postponed or canceled. The annual Critics Choice Awards gala, initially scheduled for Sunday, has been postponed, with a new date yet to be announced. Pamela Anderson’s film premiere for The Last Showgirl and Paramount’s red-carpet screening of Better Man were also scrapped.

Netflix canceled a press conference for its Golden Globe-winning Emilia Perez, and the Screen Actors Guild announced its nominations via press release instead of a live event. Even Universal Studios shut its theme park for the day due to fire conditions.

Winds hamper firefighting efforts

The largest blaze, dubbed the Palisades Fire, erupted on Tuesday and has since consumed more than 3,000 acres. It remains uncontained, as do three smaller fires—the Eaton, Hurst, and Woodley fires—which collectively burned nearly 3,000 additional acres.

Aircraft that could have aided firefighting efforts were grounded due to hurricane-force winds, leaving crews to battle flames on the ground. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning, citing “life-threatening and destructive” winds combined with warm temperatures and low humidity.

“We want to make sure that everybody understands we are absolutely not out of danger yet with the strong winds that continue to push through the city and the county today,” Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said during a press briefing.

Federal assistance deployed

President Joe Biden has authorized the deployment of federal firefighting resources, including four large air tankers, ten helicopters, and dozens of fire trucks, to assist local crews. The president is expected to meet with state fire officials in Santa Monica, south of the Palisades Fire, for a briefing.

Over 70,000 residents have been ordered to evacuate across Los Angeles County, with officials urging continued vigilance as conditions remain volatile.

Amid the chaos, actors like Steve Guttenberg joined efforts to help residents escape Pacific Palisades. Guttenberg expressed frustration with vehicles abandoned on evacuation routes, urging people to leave keys in their cars to clear the way for fire trucks.

With flames still raging and containment efforts hindered by dangerous winds, Los Angeles faces an ongoing battle to protect lives and property.