James Woods in tears after home burns down in L.A. wildfires: ‘Like an inferno’

Joe Rogan’s eerie warning of fire danger resurfaces as blazes pummel L.A.

Get the latest from Mark Daniell straight to your inbox

Published Jan 09, 2025  •  Last updated 6 minutes ago  •  5 minute read

Actor James Woods on CNN. Photo by CNN

James Woods broke down as he described having to evacuate his newly renovated home in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood as wildfires rage across southern California.

Article content

Article content

Article content

With the blaze continuing to burn, threatening parts of Los Angeles, the two-time Oscar nominee described how quickly the flames spread revealing that he and his wife were forced to leave their home with only “the clothes on our backs.”

Woods went on to recount how he had to ask police to check on his dementia-stricken next-door neighbour, who was found at home sitting in his pantry.

“He’d been left alone,” Woods said in an interview with CNN‘s Pamela Brown. “There was so much chaos, it was like an inferno. Every house was on fire around us.”

Article content

As he relived the harrowing events, Woods broke down in tears. “I thought I would be stronger than this,” the Once Upon a Time in America star said as he was overcome with emotion.

“Strength is not measured by whether you hold in crying … strength is what you are doing now in helping your neighbours and shining a light on the great, amazing work of all those firefighters and emergency crews,” Brown comforted.

Woods called the renovated property “paradise” as he lamented the loss.

“We finally had it done, and we were swimming every day and my blood pressure was going down,” Woods shared. “If you ever saw the views from that house before this fire, they were just… It was paradise. And our neighbours, we knew them all.”

He added, “One day you’re swimming in the pool and the next day it’s all gone.”

Article content

Article content

In an appearance on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, the 77-year-old actor said “it’s possible” his home is still standing, but he marvelled at how he and his neighbours came together to help one another.

“It’s astonishing that what happened during this experience was that we found out that none of us is a celebrity. None of us is a poor person or a rich person, a Democrat or a Republican. We were just neighbours, just really helping each other,” said Woods.

A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire as it burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. Photo by Ethan Swope /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

But the staunch Republican blamed the state’s Democratic leadership for creating an environment that allowed the fire to easily spread.

“If it is true that things were handled this way, if it is true that Gavin Newsom is the absolute blithering idiot that I believe he is in the way he has handled fire management in this state again and again and again and again, this isn’t a wake-up call,” Woods said. “This is the kind of thing they have tribunals for, where they try people and say, ‘You had an oath of office to perform certain duties.’”

Article content

Woods also took aim at Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley for promoting equity agendas instead of properly preparing for wildfire management.

“When you are the fire chief, this isn’t a social justice exercise that you are in charge of,” Woods said. “This is (about) you getting water to areas that need water because there are fires and hundred-mile-an-hour winds burning houses to the ground.”

Woods’ comments were echoed by Megyn Kelly, who also lashed out at Crowley.

“In recent years, L.A.’s fire chief has made not filling the fire hydrants top priority, but diversity,” Kelly said on her show Wednesday. “Diversity is at least among the top priorities for the department … Who gives a s*** if the fire chief is gay. I’m sorry but who gives a flying fig about who she likes to sleep with, can you fight the f***ing fires, madam? That’s the relevant question.”

Article content

Flames from the wind-driven Eaton Fire engulf a house in Altadena, Calif., Jan. 8, 2025. Photo by ROBYN BECK /AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Joe Rogan went viral after he was seen explaining why he moved out of Los Angeles in an old interview with comedian Sam Morril.

“I was evacuated three times from my house from fires,” Rogan said. “Last one, two houses in front of my house burned to the ground.”

Rogan also recounted an eerie conversation with a fireman after the blaze that caused him to move.

“He goes, ‘One day, it’s just going to be the right wind, and fire’s gonna start in the right place, and it’s going to burn through L.A. all the way to the ocean, and there’s not a f***ing thing we can do about it,’” he recalled.

Article content

Earlier in the week, Woods documented the early hours of the fire as it began its sweep through the Palisades, sharing photos and videos of his neighbourhood engulfed in flames.

“It tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say,” he wrote in one message.

Article content

He returned to social media on Thursday morning to praise first responders.

“The firefighters risking their lives to saves our homes deserve the highest praise and gratitude,” he wrote on X. “The politicians who deprived them of the means to do their job, and literally left them using purses to quell the conflagration should be in prison.”

Article content

Numerous celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Mandy Moore, Miles Teller, Eugene Levy, Mark Hamill and Paris Hilton, were also affected by the fires.

Crystal and his wife Janice lost the home in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood that they lived in for 45 years.

“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. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this,” the Crystals wrote in the statement.

Firefighters work from a deck as the Palisades Fire burns a beachfront property Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. Photo by Etienne Laurent /THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Moore said on Instagram that she evacuated safely with “kids, dog and cats” and that she was “praying and grateful for the first responders.”

Article content

Elsewhere, Police Academy star Steve Guttenberg, who lives in the Palisades, pitched in to try and help firefighters. He told local television station KTLA 5 that he was moving abandoned cars that were blocking traffic.

“This is not a parking lot,” he said, as he begged drivers to leave their keys in their cars. “There are people stuck up there … There are families up there, there are pets up there. There are people who really need help.”

As firefighters battled to control the fires early Thursday, 100,000 people are under evacuation orders. According to the Associated Press, the Palisades Fire is already the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history.

[email protected]

Recommended from Editorial

1. 

   Firefighters battle to control devastating Los Angeles wildfires as ferocious winds calm somewhat

2. 

   Hollywood Hills blaze breaks out as wildfires burn out of control across L.A.

Article content