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By Billie Schwab Dunn
Pop Culture and Entertainment Reporter
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As fires rage on in Los Angeles, many celebrities have had to evacuate their homes after authorities warned of an "immediate threat to life."
The Palisades Fire began as a brush fire at around 10:30 a.m. PT on Tuesday, with heavy winds causing it to quickly expand, as reported by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD). On the same day, the Eaton Fire near Altadena and the Hurst Fire in Sylma also broke out.
Mandatory evacuation orders were quickly issued for those living in the affected areas, which includes Pacific Palisades. The apocalyptic inferno has torn through the affluent neighborhood, forcing various celebrities to flee.
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Newsweek emailed spokespeople for James Woods, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Mandy Moore and Mark Hamill for comment on Wednesday, and spokespeople for Paris Hilton, Cameron Mathison, Anna Faris and Adam Brody and Leighton Meester for comment on Thursday. A spokesperson for Eugene Levy declined to comment.
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James Woods
The Once Upon a Time in America star's home was destroyed after he was forced to evacuate, sharing multiple updates to X (formerly Twitter).
"All the smoke detectors are going off in our house and transmitting to our iPhones," he wrote. "I couldn't believe our lovely little home in the hills held on this long. It feels like losing a loved one."
Only 10 minutes later, Woods shared another update, writing alongside a video: "I took this last night from our beautiful little home in the Palisades. Now all the fire alarms are going off at once remotely. It tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say."
Before these updates, Woods had been posting a series of photos and clips documenting the blaze. In one post, he simply said he was "leaving." In another, he showed the fire lapping the deck of his home.
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt
The reality TV star couple, who rose to fame on The Hills, lost their home in the raging wildfire. Pratt revealed he was packing up their home in a video he shared on Snapchat.
"Well, this isn't looking good," Pratt said in a video he posted showing the fire approaching their home. "First time I've seen the flames coming over. Aw, man. OK, I'm going to go pack up, I think."
Later, his sister and fellow reality star Stephanie Pratt confirmed the news on Instagram.
"I am beyond heartbroken for my brother, Heidi & the kids. And to all of our friends and neighbors who have lost their houses today. Just spoke to my dad—he tried to save my brother's house but the wind is so strong there was nothing he could do. Even the fire station in the palisades has burned down," she wrote.
"The Pacific Palisades is completely on fire. No one is there. My parents evacuated safely and are watching the fire rage towards their house on security cameras. I don't even want to look at mine as my dad told me the Market down the street from my house is on fire."
She said she was at a "loss for words" knowing so many friends have lost their homes and that she is thinking about leaving London to fly home and "hug my family."
In another post, she added: "Just heard the fire is on my street pali-high behind me has just burned down. it's 2:40am in London definitely won't be getting any sleep even though this feels like I'm sleeping having a nightmare. My poor brother."
Paris Hilton
The socialite revealed that she was "heartbroken beyond words" while watching her Malibu home, where she lived with her husband Carter Reum and children Phoenix and London, burn to the ground live on the TV news.
"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," Hilton posted on Instagram, alongside a clip from news station KABC showing her destroyed home.
"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 described the loss as "overwhelming" but said that she was "holding onto gratitude that my family is safe."
Cameron Mathison
The General Hospital actor shared a video on Instagram of what was left of his home after the fire. The clip shows Mathison walking through the scorched remains of the property.
"We are safe," Mathison 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."
He 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 fires."
Adam Brody and Leighton Meester
According to a video shared by TMZ, the couple lost their Pacific Palisades home in the fire. The clip showed the property burning with black smoke billowing from it, with pictures showing there is nothing left.
Brody, who rose to fame on The O.C., and Meester, who starred in Gossip Girl, were raising their two children in the $6.5 million property.
Anna Faris
The Mom actor has also lost her home, the outlet reported. Images shared online have shown the 4,000-square-foot home charred to its foundation.
Faris bought the home in 2019 after she and actor Chris Pratt split up and sold their combined home in Hollywood Hills.
Billy Crystal
The When Harry Met Sally star and his wife Janice said that they were "heartbroken" by the loss of their home. They had lived at the property since 1979.
"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," they said in a joint statement.
"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. We pray for the safety of the firefighters and first responders."
Celebrities Forced to Flee
Other celebrities to be evacuated from their homes include Star Wars actor Mark Hamill and Schitt's Creek star Eugene Levy. At the time of writing, it was unclear whether their properties remained intact.
"Evacuated Malibu so last minute," Hamill wrote in an Instagram post onTuesday night. "Small fires on both sides of the road as we approached (the Pacific Coast Highway)."
In a follow-up post, he said the wildfires were the "most horrific fire since '93," referring to blazes in nearby Malibu that destroyed 18,000 acres of land and 323 homes.
Levy spoke to the Los Angeles Times about what it was like battling traffic during his evacuation, saying: "The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon. I couldn't see any flames but the smoke was very dark," he told.
Mandy Moore, singer and actor in TV drama This Is Us, also had to flee her house and updated fans with her status on Tuesday. At the time of writing, she was unsure of the state of her family's home.
"Evacuated safe with kids, dogs and cats. Praying and grateful for first responders," she wrote on her Instagram Stories.
In a follow-up post, Moore added: "Grateful for the kindness of friends that we had a place to land last night. Trying to shield the kids from the immense sadness and worry I feel. Praying for everyone in our beautiful city. So gutted for the destruction and loss. Don't know if our place made it."
Before the fire, the National Weather Service issued several "red flag warnings" for Tuesday and Wednesday in Southern California due to expected heavy winds of up to 100 mph.
The Palisades Fire is expected to last until at least Thursday, the L.A. County Fire Department said early today.
The Eaton fire has also spread rapidly, consuming an estimated 1,000 acres in the hills above Altadena. Evacuation orders have been issued for parts of both Altadena and Pasadena as firefighters struggle to control the blaze.
Update 01/09/25, 7:43 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include information about the homes of Paris Hilton, Cameron Mathison, Anna Faris, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester and Billy Crystal.
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