A devastating series of wildfires have swept through the Pacific Palisades, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Among the hardest hit are several Hollywood celebrities, including Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton, who have lost their homes to the flames. The fires, which ignited across multiple regions, have resulted in the destruction of over 1,000 structures as six separate blazes burn in and around Los Angeles. The situation has prompted the cancellation of major events such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards live ceremony and the postponement of the Oscar nominations event.
The Pacific Palisades neighborhood bore the brunt of the wildfires, with a fierce inferno ballooning from a few hundred acres to over 15,000 acres in size. This area, home to many Hollywood luminaries, witnessed massive devastation. Mark Hamill and Eugene Levy were among those forced to evacuate their residences. Meanwhile, actors Miles Teller and Keleigh Sperry reportedly lost their home amidst the chaos.
In Malibu, Paris Hilton experienced a harrowing loss as she watched her home burn live on television. She expressed her heartache over the destruction, saying, "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."
"This home is where we built so many precious memories… My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires." – Paris Hilton
Billy Crystal also shared his sorrow after losing his long-time Pacific Palisades residence. He reflected on the cherished memories created in their home since 1979.
"We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can't be taken away." – Billy Crystal
"We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this." – Billy Crystal
Other residents such as Diane Warren and Cameron Mathison faced similar fates. Mathison shared footage of his property reduced to smoldering ruins.
"We are safe. But this is what's left of our beautiful home." – Cameron Mathison
"Our home where our kids were raised and where they wanted to raise their own someday." – Cameron Mathison
The wildfires also imperiled the Palisades Charter High School, famously used in the 1976 horror classic "Carrie," which suffered considerable damage. Actor Steve Guttenberg stayed behind during the evacuation efforts to assist firefighters by moving cars to clear paths for their trucks.
Amidst the destruction, residents and celebrities alike voiced their disbelief at how quickly their surroundings transformed from places of comfort to scenes of devastation.
"One day you're swimming in the pool and the next day it's all gone." – James Woods
Adding to the already grim situation, a new blaze known as the Sunset Fire erupted on Wednesday night in the Hollywood Hills, exacerbating the strain on emergency services.
Leave a Reply