Celebrities Evacuate as Wildfires Ravage Los Angeles Neighborhoods

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wildfires tearing through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles have forced thousands, including celebrities like Mandy Moore, Mark Hamill, and James Woods, to evacuate their homes. The fires, fueled by strong winds, have destroyed homes, clogged roadways, and strained resources as they burned uncontained early Wednesday.

The Pacific Palisades, a hillside area along the coast known for its celebrity residences, became a scene of chaos as residents fled on foot, abandoning vehicles in the rush to safety. Mark Hamill, known for his role in ‘Star Wars,’ shared on Instagram that he evacuated Malibu at the last minute, describing small fires on both sides of the road as he approached the Pacific Coast Highway.

Mandy Moore, star of ‘This Is Us,’ posted on Instagram that her family, including her husband Taylor Goldsmith and their three young children, evacuated safely with their pets. ‘Praying for everyone in our beautiful city. So gutted for the destruction and loss. Don’t know if our place made it,’ Moore wrote. She added that she was trying to shield her children from the ‘immense sadness and worry’ she felt.

James Woods shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) of flames burning near his home, stating, ‘Standing in my driveway, getting ready to evacuate.’ He later confirmed his evacuation, describing the experience as ‘testing your soul, losing everything at once.’

Officials have not provided an estimate of structures damaged or destroyed, but at least 70,000 residents were under evacuation orders, with nearly 30,000 structures threatened. The fire burned through Temescal Canyon, a popular hiking area, and parts of Palisades Charter High School, which has been featured in numerous Hollywood productions.

The wildfires have also disrupted the entertainment industry, with film premieres canceled, theme parks closed, and production halted on several TV series, including ‘Hacks,’ ‘Ted Lasso,’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ The Critics Choice Awards, originally scheduled for Sunday, have been postponed to February 26.

As firefighters continue to battle the blaze, residents and celebrities alike await news on the fate of their homes and communities. The fires serve as a stark reminder of the increasing threat of wildfires in California, exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather conditions.