Several celebrities have lost their homes to the ongoing Los Angeles (LA) Wildfire which started Tuesday, January 7.
They include James Wood, married actors Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Mandy Moore, heiress and reality TV star, Paris Hilton, Cary Elwes, Cameron Mathison, Diane Warren and others.
Thankful for his wonderful neighbours and the first responders’ firemen, 77-year-old actor, James Wood, who broke down during an interview with CNN, said he had to save his 94-year-old neighbour with dementia, who was alone at home.
“There was so much fire around us. I thought I would be stronger than this. There is no possession as friends and good neighbours during a tragedy. I can’t believe the blessings we enjoy, and I am humbly grateful,” wrote Wood on X.
Also grateful for their timely evacuation before the fire engulfed her residential area of Altadena was Moore, who wrote, “Grateful for my family and pets getting out last night before it was too late (and endless gratitude for friends taking us in and bringing us clothes and blankets). Honestly, I’m in shock and feeling numb for all so many have lost, including my family. Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together.”
Hilton whose beachfront Malibu home burnt down shared on X “Praying for LA/California right now.”
There are about six wildfires burning in Los Angeles. There is the ‘Pacific Palisades Fire’, the first area to erupt in flames with over 6,800 hectares and 1,000 structures scorched between the hills of Santa Monica, and Malibu.
‘The Eaton Fire’, which has claimed over 4200 hectares, 1000 structures and killed five people. ‘The Hurst Fire’ by north of San Fernando has scorched over 344 hectares. ‘Lidia Fire’ near Acton, is presently 40 per cent contained. ‘Sunset Fire’ the most recent to breakout in the Hollywood Hills has burnt up 24 hectares leading to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people around the Hollywood Walk of Fame, The Dolby Theatre, and the Hollywood Bowl.
In response to the emergency, production on shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Suits: L.A, Hacks and Fallout were paused, and the premieres of Wolf Man and The Pitt cancelled.
Academy Awards (Oscars) voting deadline for shortlisted categories which opened January 8, was pushed back from January 12 to 14. The Critics Choice Awards, originally set for January 12, was postponed to January 26. Same as BAFTA Tea Party, AFI Awards Luncheon, and AARP’s Movies for Grownups, have all been postponed.
Actress and six Primetime Emmy Awardee and double Tony Awards winner, Jean Smart has urged TV networks to cancel awards season/shows and donate the revenue for the awards to first responders (firemen and EMT) and L.A fire victims.
“With all due respect, during Hollywood’s season of celebration, I hope any of the networks televising the upcoming awards will seriously consider Not televising them and donating the revenue they would have garnered to victims of fires and the fire fighters.”
