As multiple blazes spread through the Los Angeles area, at least 24 people have died and thousands of structures have been destroyed in what may be some of the most destructive wildfires in Southern California history.
Three fires burned in the L.A. area as of Sunday. The Palisades Fire ripped through western neighborhoods of Pacific Palisades and Malibu, becoming the most destructive wildfire in L.A. history. The fire is more than 20,000 acres and is 11% contained, according to Cal Fire.
The Eaton Fire has grown to more than 14,000 acres and is 27% contained, according to Cal Fire. The Hurst Fire near the city of San Fernando spans about 800 acres and is 89% contained.
Thousands of structures have burned to the ground, including homes of celebrities who live in the L.A. area. Actor Steve Guttenberg sprang into action when flames broke out in his neighborhood of Pacific Palisades on Jan. 7, helping his neighbors evacuate and working to clear the roads for emergency responders.
“Nine o’clock, I was having a cup of coffee. At 9:45, the sky was black,” he said on TODAY Jan. 9. “It was just terrible. Within I’d say, 20 minutes, everything changed. And it’s not gotten better. Obviously, it’s gotten worse.”
Guttenberg, 66, added he was trying to get back to his house to “see what’s there,” and that he spoke to his gate guard, whom he described as “so emotional.”
“The big deal is no matter how much money you’ve got, how big your car is, your house — all you’ve got at the end is, you’re walking down the block with a little suitcase, looking to try to get to an area that’s safe and evacuate,” he said. “We’re all the same.”
Here are some of the celebrities affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles.
Joshua Jackson
A representative for Joshua Jackson said in a statement to Deadline that the actor’s home in Topanga Canyon was destroyed by the wildfires.
“First and most importantly, all the people closest to me affected by the fire are ok. My daughter, my family, my neighbors all made it out safely,” Jackson said in the statement. “Sadly my beautiful home did not survive the fires. But today, I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by the people I love.”
Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung
In a joint Instagram post Jan. 10, Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung shared a video of the remains of their home in the wake of the wildfire.
“Was supposed to be our forever home, but nothing lasts forever. Thankfully our family is safe, however other LA fire victims aren’t as fortunate. Please donate to them if you can. Link in bio,” the couple wrote in the caption.
Milo Ventimiglia
Milo Ventimiglia and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, were forced to flee their Malibu home because of the fires. They later watched on security cameras as their home burned down to the ground, the actor told CBS News.
“You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and what not and then you see your neighbors houses and everything kind of around and your heart just breaks,” Ventimiglia said.
The actor said that he’s aware of “life imitating art,” as his character on “This Is Us,” Jack Pearson, dies after going into cardiac arrest from inhaling smoke when the family home catches fire.
“We got good friends and we got good people we’re working with and we’ll make do. Wife and baby and dog, most important,” the Ventimiglia added.
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton shared she was “heartbroken beyond words” after watching her home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV.
“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 was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London,” she wrote in a Jan. 8 Instagram post, referring to her two children, Phoenix and London.
Hilton, 43, urged her followers to heed to evacuation orders and to protect one another.
“While the loss is overwhelming, I’m holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe,” she wrote. “My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires … To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking.”
Dianne Warren
Songwriter Diane Warren shared on Instagram Jan. 8 that her beach house of more than 30 years had been destroyed.
“I’ve had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite,” she wrote in the caption. “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.”
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, former stars of “The Hills,” lost their home in the Palisades Fire, the pair said in social media posts.
“The one positive sign i saw as our house burned down was ours sons bed burned in the shape of a heart,” Pratt said in an Instagram post on Jan. 8. “A sign of how much love was in this house so thankful for all the years and memories there with our family.”
The couple married in 2008 and share two children together: Gunner, 7, and Ryker, 2.
Melissa Rivers
Melissa Rivers, the daughter of Joan Rivers and Edgar Rosenberg, said she was able to save several important items that belonged to her parents before her home was destroyed.
“That is the end of everything that belonged to my family and the history of it,” Rivers said on CNN on Jan. 8. “I grabbed my mom’s Emmy, a photo of my dad and a drawing my mother had done of me and my son. I went for a drawing of hers, rather than a photo. I know I can find the photos, but a drawing I can’t replace.”
Billy Crystal
Actor and comedian Billy Crystal shared how he had been impacted by the fires in a statement to CNN on Jan. 8.
“Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing. We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy,” he said. “Janice and I lived in our 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.”
He added: “We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this. We pray for the safety of the fire fighters and first responders. The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home.”
Cameron Mathison
“All My Children” and “General Hospital” star Cameron Mathison shared a devastating video showing what was left of his home on Jan. 8.
“We are safe,” he said. “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.”
Mathison added: “Thanks to all who reached out and checked in. Can’t respond to all so wanted to give an update here. Sending so many prayers to everyone being affected by these.”
Anna Faris
Anna Faris’ home burned down, but she and her family are unharmed, her representative told People on Jan. 8.
“Anna and her family are safe and very grateful,” a rep for Faris said in a statement to the magazine.
Rosie O’Donnell
Rosie O’Donnell posted a video on TikTok on Jan. 8 showing the destruction along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu and sharing that she had lost her home.
“On pch in malibu — the whole of beach front homes gone — including the one i lived in,” she wrote in the caption.
O’Donnell wrote in a Jan. 7 Instagram post she was safe and had evacuated to a hotel.
Cary Elwes
“The Princess Bride” actor Cary Elwes and his wife Lisa Marie Elwes said they had lost their home, but were “grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire.”
“Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also wish to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it,” the couple wrote in a joint Instagram post on Jan. 8.
Ricki Lake
Ricki Lake said she lost her “dream home” in an Instagram post on Jan. 8. The actor said she escaped with her dog, Dolly, and “not much else.”
“After a valiant and brave effort by our friend and hero @kirbykotler_ Ross and I lost our dream home. 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 wrote.
Lake added: “This loss is immeasurable. It’s the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grieve along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event.”
Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore shared photos from the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Instagram Jan. 9, confirming that the main part of her house is “intact” but the rest of her property has been destroyed.
Beside a slideshow of pictures of her husband, Taylor Goldsmith, examining the destruction, she wrote, “We were able to park and walk up our street to bear witness to all the loss. Miraculously, the main part of our house is still standing. For now. It’s not livable but mostly intact.”
The “This Is Us” star said her husband’s studio, that he shares with brother Griffin Goldsmith and included all of the duo’s instruments and music equipment, has been destroyed.
“We lost our garage and back house. Everyone we know lost everything,” she continued. “Every house on our street is gone. My in laws. My brother and sister in law- 6 weeks from welcoming their first baby. Our best friends. Feeling weird survivors guilt.”
She said she loves her community and will work to help rebuild it.
“Thanks for everyone for checking on us and offering us help. Altadena strong,” she concluded.
Bozoma Saint John
“Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Bozoma Saint John uploaded a series of photos of sweet moments she shared with her daughter, Lael, in their Malibu home before including videos of streets and houses ablaze.
“This is the house I wanted. The house I prayed for. The house I worked in blood, sweat and tears for. The house that I put a key pad instead of a key hole in the front door because I wanted all my family and friends to have a code and use the house whenever they wanted,” the former Netflix CMO wrote on Instagram Jan. 9. “This is the house where I found peace after battling with racist neighbors and a community that made me have to buy it in a trust within a trust so no one would know that widowed, single Black woman with a teenager was buying on the exclusively-held beach. This was my EFF YOU I’m here house.”
She added that the home also had a special movie room for her sister.
“It is gone,” she said. “This is an unimaginable loss. I grieve with the rest of Los Angeles as it burns… and even though I’ve found even words to write here, there’s nothing that I could say in this moment to describe this feeling.” She asked for prayers for her and her daughter.