Los Angeles is a place filled with glitz, glamour, and luxury. It’s the city where many Hollywood icons reside, as it has great connectivity to studios, and you also get the opportunity to network with other big names. But there’s always a lurking vulnerability in this region, i.e., wildfires!
In recent days, this threat has transformed into an unforgiving reality with blazes that have swept away whole neighborhoods. The flames don’t distinguish, it has engulfed modest homes to multi-million dollar mansions of celebrities. Most of these stars were considered untouchable, but now they’re facing the wrath of nature.
Paris Hilton, Adam Brody, and more lose their home in Los Angeles Fire
The areas that were affected the most during the wildfire are Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena neighborhoods. These places were known for having breathtaking views, and stars like Billy Crystal, Paris Hilton, and Mandy Moore had their abodes in this region (via The Guardian).
Crystal’s Pacific Palisades residence was his family home for 46 years, and it was all lost to fire. Moreover, Hilton’s young son had taken his first steps in her Malibu property which was now reduced to ashes. Moore also shared images of his Altadena neighborhood and expressed the numbness he felt due to such a great loss.
In addition to these names, we also have Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, who lost their $6.5 million mansion (via WION). Bill Crystal, John Goodman, Miles Teller, and Anna Faris, are among the unfortunate actors who lost their homes to the fire as well (via The Scottish Sun).
The widespread destruction even affected Cary Elwes, Eugene Levy, and the iconic musician, Diane Warren. The Oscar-winning actor, Anthony Hopkins’ residence also turned to dust (via New York Post).
The origins of the wildfire in Los Angeles and its growing impact
The recent fires have erupted due to a combination of natural and human-driven factors. As per reports, the Palisades Fire that ignited around Santa Monica and Malibu scorched thousands of acres while the Eaton Fire engulfed 10,000 acres near Altadena (USA Today).
These wildfires have led to massive destruction, with over 30,000 people being evacuated and more than 1,100 buildings being consumed by the fire. Beyond the loss of property and homes, the fires have also halted the entertainment industry, delaying many schedules.
The strong Santa Ana winds which had reached a speed of up to 100 mph were enough to fan the flames that led to an extreme and rapid expansion of the fire. The region was rather dry and low in humidity, so the erratic wind only heightened the flames’ intensity. The cause is still being investigated, but experts have suggested that it could have been due to power lines, unextinguished campfires, and vehicle accidents.