Kate Beckinsale, Cameron Mathison, Mandy Moore. Photo:
JC Olivera/Getty; Presley Ann/Shutterstock; Christopher Polk/WWD via Getty
A series of wildfires has devastated parts of Southern California, causing thousands of residents to have to flee their homes as it rapidly engulfs large parts of the Los Angeles area.
The first fire started in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and has burned nearly 3,000 acres of land since it was sparked around 10:30 a.m. Videos show devastation in the seaside community; as Pacific Palisades resident Maria Shriver wrote on Instagram, “Heartbreaking, devastating, beyond belief. Everything is gone. Our neighborhood, our restaurants. All our friends have lost everything.”
The Eaton Fire (also called the Close Fire) followed, sparking around 6:30 pm; by late morning, it had exploded to 10,000 acres. By 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, the Woodley Fire was ablaze, seizing 75 acres in its wake.
Northward of that, the Hurst Fire, which grew about 500 acres in size, sparked around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday and was still going around 5 a.m. on Wednesday. A fifth blaze, the Tyler Fire, sparked west of L.A. near Coachella and was 50 percent contained at the time of this writing.
Among the more than 80,000 people displaced were these celebrities, many of whom have called the area home for decades. Some, including Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag and Cameron Mathison, already report that their homes have been destroyed.
See what these stars have said about their personal connection to the horrifying natural disaster.
Soap star Cameron Mathison shared a video of the remains of his home in a heartbreaking video posted to Instagram. “We are safe But this is what’s left of our beautiful home. Our home where our kids were raised and where they wanted to raise their own someday,” he wrote under the post.
“Thanks to all who reached out and checked in. Can’t respond to all so wanted to give an update here,” he added. “Sending so many prayers to everyone being affected by these fires🙏🏼”
In a harrowing video posted on TikTok, former Hills star Spencer Pratt revealed his home was among those burned down.
“Nightmare came true,” the father of two captioned the video.
His wife Heidi Montag posted a follow-up TikTok in which she confirmed the loss of their home and thanked fans for prayers and thoughts . “Thank God we are safe … it’s just … no words.”
Kate Beckinsale mourned the loss of the Pacific Palisades community that has played a large part in her family’s life.
“My daughter and I lived there for most of her childhood and most of her childhood is gone,” she wrote. “Her primary school, every shop or restaurant we used to go to with my parents and Michael’s parents -and devastatingly, most of her friends homes. My heart is broken.”
She continued, “The Pacific Palisades is a community very unusual to find in Los Angeles, heavy on families with young children and pets. I’m weeping for all of the people and pets involved, so many of them I know. My heart is breaking for the families who have lost everything, and the people and their animals, not to mention the horses and all the wild animals, people’s businesses and livelihoods. This is just like hell.”
“If anyone from village needs shelter and doesn’t still have a number for me ,please contact me on Instagram,” she concluded.
Mandy Moore, L.A. Fires;. Mandy Moore/Instagram; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Mandy Moore is leaning on her loved ones as she and her family (and pets) were also forced to evacuate.
“Grateful for the kindness of friends that we had a place to land last night. 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.”
Sandra Lee also had to evacuate her Malibu home as the blazing flames drew closer.
“My home in Malibu has got me through some of the darkest moments in my life. I have loved creating it, embellishing it, building it, caring for it, and protecting it. I’ve cherished every moment I have had with it,” she shared on Instagram on Jan. 7.
“As the fire draws closer, I pray for it—- I pray for everyone in Los Angeles right now. What an incredibly terrifying moment for my community. As the fire reaches our doorstep, please stay in contact with each other; Community in times like these is our lifeline.”
JJ Redick and wife Chelsea Kilgore. Kevin Mazur/WireImage
L.A. Lakers coach JJ Redick L.A. Lakers revealed that his family were “freaking out” as they were among those forced to evacuate their home amid the fires.
Ahead of the Lakers vs. Mavericks game in Dallas on Jan. 7, Redick sent his “thoughts and prayers to everyone in the Palisades right now,” adding, “that’s where I live.”
According to the AP, he noted, “Our family, my wife’s family, my wife’s twin sister, they’ve evacuated. I know a lot of people are freaking out right now, including my family.”
“Thoughts and prayers for sure, and hope everyone stays safe.”
Eugene Levy. Frazer Harrison/Getty
Schitt’s Creek star Eugene Levy, 78, told the L.A. Times that he’d found himself “stuck” by “black and intense” smoke over Temescal Canyon as he tried to leave his home. “I couldn’t see any flames but the smoke was very dark,” the actor added.
Mark Hamill shared a “personal fire update” with followers on Instagram, revealing that he’d been evacuated from Malibu at 7 p.m. alongside his wife Marilou and their dog Trixie. The Star Wars actor said he arrived safely at his daughter “Chelsea’s house in Hollywood and urged everyone to “stay safe,” before noting that they were the “most horrific fires since ’93,” and that his family had been “fleeing for our lives.”
James Woods evacuated LA Fires. James Woods/X; Slaven Vlasic/Getty
James Woods sent out a message of gratitude as he revealed he also had to leave his home. “To all the wonderful people who’ve reached out to us, thank you for being so concerned. Just letting you know that we were able to evacuate successfully. I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing, but sadly houses on our little street are not,” he tweeted just before 4:00 p.m. on Jan. 7.
“I have no words. Only prayers and holding as much hope as I can for our home and our kids while we watch everything burn,” actress Jennifer Love Hewitt wrote on Instagram.
“Thank you to every first responder fighting so hard for all of us. Thank you to every friend who reached out and new person I have hugged in tears in the last 24 hours. 💔🙏🏻”
Maria Shriver. Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
Maria Shriver also posted a video chronicling the devastation across her neighborhood. “Heartbreaking, devastating, beyond belief,” she wrote in part.
“Everything is gone. Our neighborhood, our restaurants. All our friends have lost everything. We have evacuated, but are safe. But people have lost everything.”
Landon and Alabama Barker evacuated LA Fires. Landon Barker/Instagram; Alabama Barker/Instagram
Travis Barker‘s children Alabama and Landon — whom he shares with ex Shanna Moakler — also revealed to their followers that they had to evacuate via Instagram Stories. Landon shared a selfie and noted that he was “praying” for everyone affected, while his sister urged her followers to “be safe.”
Police Academy and Three Men and a Baby star Steve Guttenberg lent a hand to the LAFD and assisted in the Pacific Palisades evacuations.
In an interview with local news station KTLA, he urged fellow residents to leave the keys in their cars so he and others can move them to help fire crews pass through as they attempt to battle the blaze.
Diane Warren revealed she lost her home of 30 years.
“This is the last pic I took of Leah’s rock from my beach house,” she wrote, referencing her late friend Leah, who died 10 years ago.
“I’ve had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite,” she continued. Still, Warren is choosing to be hopeful as she alerted followers that the animals at her rescue ranch were unharmed.
“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. The animals and the rescue ranch are OK tho which is the most important thing. Stay safe everyone.❤️💔”
Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that though her house wasn’t affected, her entire neighborhood “is gone.”
“Our beloved neighborhood is gone. Our home is safe. So many others have lost everything. Help where you can. Thank you to the first responders and firefighters. @americanredcross“
Elizabeth Chambers. Emma McIntyre/Getty;Elizabeth Chambers/Instagram
After sharing photos of the Palisades High School grounds on fire and encouraging her L.A.-based fans to gas up their cars and seek shelter where possible, Elizabeth Chambers revealed in her Instagram Stories that she also had to evacuate and was now staying with her sister.
Ricki Lake is among those mourning the loss of their dream homes.
“It’s all gone. 💔 I can’t believe I am typing these words. After a valiant and brave effort by our friend and hero @kirbykotler_ Ross and I lost our dream home,” she wrote in a heartfelt caption accompanied by a carousel of pictures she took in happier times.
“This description ‘dream home’ doesn’t suffice. It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together. We never took our heavenly spot on the bluff overlooking our beloved malibu for granted, not even for one second. I shared our sunset 🌅 views almost daily with all of you,” she continued.
She added, “This loss is immeasurable. It’s the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grief along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event.
Praying for all of my neighbors, my friends, my community, the animals, the firefighters and first responders. More to share soon of how we escaped with Dolly and not much else. For now I grieve. 💔💔💔”
Jennifer Grey. Amy Sussman/Getty ; stellagregg/Instagram
Jennifer Grey‘s daughter Stella Gregg announced on her Instagram Stories that the Dirty Dancing actress’s home was “burnt to the ground.” She assured followers her mom and her dog Winnie were safe and encouraged everyone to “give your loved ones an extra squeeze today.”
