Pacific Palisades Fire Forces Stars To Evacuate
Hollywood’s elite faced a shocking wake-up call on January 7 as powerful Santa Ana winds triggered a brush fire in the luxurious Pacific Palisades neighborhood. Known for its multimillion-dollar celebrity homes, the area became a chaotic scene of smoke, flames, and emergency evacuations.
The fire began at around 10 am, with fierce winds sparking fast-moving fires that spread through the hills west of Los Angeles. Local roads, including parts of Sunset Boulevard, were gridlocked as residents fled. Hollywood icons like Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Miles Teller, Eugene Levy, Michael Keaton, Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck, James Woods, and Steve Guttenberg were among those residing in the neighborhood.
Known for his role in Police Academy, Guttenberg turned real-life hero by helping clear abandoned cars to give firefighters better access. “I have friends up there right now, and they can’t evacuate because it’s stuck on Palisades Drive. There are families up there, there are pets up there, there are people who really need help,” he shared, gesturing toward the flames.
Meanwhile, Casino star James Woods provided social media updates on his evacuation. Sharing haunting images of the inferno on X, he captioned one post, “The view from one of our security camerad.” Later, he confirmed his family’s safety but added, “I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing, but sadly, houses on our little street are not.”
Another Hollywood evacuee, Schitt’s Creek star Eugene Levy, described the harrowing scene to the Los Angeles Times, stating, “The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon. I couldn’t see any flames but the smoke was very dark.”
The fire’s impact wasn’t limited to personal losses. It disrupted celebrity events like the premieres of Unstoppable, starring Jennifer Lopez, and Wolf Man, featuring Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott.
The National Weather Service issued a rare “Red Flag Warning,” referring to the situation as “particularly dangerous.” Over 13,000 structures remain at risk, with evacuation orders extending to Malibu, the San Fernando Valley, and Beverly Hills. On January 8, the local government initiated the evacuation of 30,000 residents.
Authorities anticipate that the blaze will spread and become bigger as the evening wind picks up. In a span of one day, the fire grew dangerously fast, razing 300 acres to nearly 3,000 by twilight. The cause of the fire is still under investigation while the threat to Hollywood’s backyard has left residents and fans alike on edge.
As firefighters and other first responders struggle to contain the fire, the fate of this exclusive neighborhood remains uncertain. Residents and fans anxiously await updates on their favorite stars and their homes.
