A fast-moving series of fires beginning Jan. 7 has devastated areas of Southern California, causing thousands of residents to have to flee their homes — including many stars
A series of wildfires has devastated swaths of Southern California, causing thousands of residents to have to flee their homes as it rapidly engulfs large parts of the Los Angeles area.
Among the more than 80,000 people displaced were celebrities, many of whom have called the area home for decades. Some, including Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake, Cary Elwes, Cameron Mathison, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, have confirmed that their homes have been destroyed.
The first fire started in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Videos show devastation in the seaside community; as Pacific Palisades resident Maria Shriver wrote on Instagram, “Heartbreaking, devastating, beyond belief. Everything is gone. Our neighborhood, our restaurants. All our friends have lost everything.”
The Eaton Fire (also called the Close Fire) followed, sparking around 6:30 pm Tuesday; by late Wednesday morning, it had exploded to 10,000 acres across Pasadena and Altadena. By 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, the Woodley Fire was ablaze, seizing 75 acres in its wake.
Northward of that, the Hurst Fire, which grew to about 500 acres in size, sparked around 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday and was still going around 5 a.m. on Wednesday. A fifth blaze, the Tyler Fire, sparked west of L.A. near Coachella and was 50 percent contained at the time of this writing.
Many entertainment events and filmings were postponed as a result of the catastrophe, which as of Wednesday evening had claimed five civilian lives and was already being called the most destructive fire in the history of Los Angeles County, with more than 1,100 structures destroyed and 27,000 acres impacted so far, according to the Los Angeles Times.
See what stars have said about their personal connection to the horrifying disaster.
Adam Brody and Leighton Meester
The couple, who have been married for 10 years, lost the Pacific Palisades home they share with their two children, photos confirm (below). Reps did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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Ricki Lake
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Ricki Lake is among those mourning the loss of their homes.
“It’s all gone. 💔 I can’t believe I am typing these words. After a valiant and brave effort by our friend and hero @kirbykotler_ Ross and I lost our dream home,” she wrote in a heartfelt caption accompanied by a carousel of pictures she took in happier times.
“This description ‘dream home’ doesn’t suffice. It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together. We never took our heavenly spot on the bluff overlooking our beloved malibu for granted, not even for one second. I shared our sunset 🌅 views almost daily with all of you,” she continued.
She added, “This loss is immeasurable. It’s the spot where we got married 3 years ago. I grief along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event.
Praying for all of my neighbors, my friends, my community, the animals, the firefighters and first responders. More to share soon of how we escaped with Dolly and not much else. For now I grieve. 💔💔💔”
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Cameron Mathison
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Soap star Cameron Mathison shared a video of the remains of his home in a heartbreaking video posted to Instagram. “We are safe 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 wrote under the post.
“Thanks to all who reached out and checked in. Can’t respond to all so wanted to give an update here,” he added. “Sending so many prayers to everyone being affected by these fires🙏🏼”
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Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton posted a video to Instagram of ABC News footage that showed the charred remains of her beachfront Malibu home, and recalled some happy memories she and her family had there.
“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,” she wrote, in part. “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. … While the loss is overwhelming, I’m holding onto gratitude that my family is safe. My heart and prayers are going out to every family affected by these fires.”
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Diane Warren
Diane Warren revealed she lost her home of 30 years.
“This is the last pic I took of Leah’s rock from my beach house,” she wrote, referencing her late friend Leah, who died 10 years ago.
“I’ve had this house for almost 30 years. It looks like it was lost in the fire last nite,” she continued. Still, Warren is choosing to be hopeful as she alerted followers that the animals at her rescue ranch were unharmed.
“There’s a rainbow shining on it which I’m taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy. The animals and the rescue ranch are OK tho which is the most important thing. Stay safe everyone.❤️💔”
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Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal confirmed that he and his family, including Janice, his wife of nearly 55 years, had lost their home, in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
“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. 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 fire fighters and first responders. The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home.”
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Anna Faris
PEOPLE confirms that Anna Faris lost the Pacific Palisades home where she lived with her family.
“Anna and her family are safe and very grateful,” a representative for the Just Friends actress, 48, told PEOPLE on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
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Jennifer Grey
Jennifer Grey’s daughter Stella Gregg announced on her Instagram Stories that the Dirty Dancing actress’s home was “burnt to the ground.” She assured followers her mom and her dog Winnie were safe and encouraged everyone to “give your loved ones an extra squeeze today.”
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Denise Crosby
Star Trek actress Denise Crosby posted a photo of the “ashes” of her home, writing, “Yesterday morning I had a beautiful Spanish cottage that gave me endless joy, where I met my husband and raised my son, the only house I’ve ever owned, with fruit trees I grew, with a garden of native plants. Now, ashes. I am heartbroken.”
https://x.com/TheDeniseCrosby/status/1877130938964115575
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Maeve Reilly
Celebrity stylist Maeve Reilly, who works with Eva Longoria and Coco Jones, posted Wednesday night that their house had burned down, and in their neighborhood, “everything is gone.” Shortly after, she shared that she had to drive to Beverly Hills to evacuate her in-laws. “This feels like a bad dream. Everything we own is in this truck,” she wrote on Instagram Stories.
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Jen Atkin
Celebrity hairstylist and Ouai founder Jen Atkin posted photos to her Instagram stories of her emotional evacuation from her home with her family, including husband Mike Rosenthal and their dog.
“Our house is gone … It’s almost too much to comprehend. Our neighbors are all taking care of one anotehr and checking in and that’s the theme for 2025,” she wrote on Instagram Stories. “We’re going to be ok. We always push thru. I’m just so sad I left my Grandma Atkin’s church blazer with her tissues and tictacs in the pockets.”
In a subsequent post, she showed the before and after of her home, saying, “I feel so grateful my family is together. I also feel scared and sad.”
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Melissa Rivers
Melissa Rivers called into CNN to confirm that she had lost her home. “My heart is so broken, not just for myself … it’s a town and it’s wiped off the map,” she said.
“That is the end of everything that belonged to my family and the history of it,” she said, referring to items she had that belonged to her late parents, comedy legend Joan Rivers and producer Edgar Rosenberg. “I grabbed my mom’s Emmy, a photo of my dad and a drawing my mother had done of me and my son. … I went for a drawing of hers, rather than a photo. I know I can find the photos, but a drawing I can’t replace.”
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Cary Elwes
Cary Elwes posted terrifying video of the “biblical” devastation he was passing as he evacuated his Malibu home.
On Wednesday, he shared an update that he and his family did lose their home, adding, “but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire” and extending gratitude to the first responders and those sending well wishes.
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Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag
@spencerprattNightmare came true
In a harrowing video posted on TikTok, former Hills star Spencer Pratt revealed his home was among those burned down.
“Nightmare came true,” the father of two captioned the video.
His wife Heidi Montag posted a follow-up TikTok in which she confirmed the loss of their home and thanked fans for prayers and thoughts . “Thank God we are safe … it’s just … no words.”
Later that day, Pratt shared a photo from what remained of his home with a note of hope.
“The one positive sign i saw as our house burned down was our son’s bed burned in the shape of a heart,” he captioned the post. “A sign of how much love was in this house so thankful for all the years and memories there with our family.”
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Carolyn Murphy
Model Carolyn Murphy shared to Instagram Stories a terrifying video captured on her home security camera of sparks falling around her home “seconds before our home went up in flames.”
“We are safe, our dogs are safe, and that’s all that matters,” she wrote; she added in a subsequent story that “my heart goes out for everyone in our community … I pray all the wildlife is safe, our rascally bobcat, our fierce mountain lion, the silly coyotes, waddling skunks, sleek foxes and singing birds.”
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Molly Sims
Molly Sims posted an emotional update to her Instagram Stories, first writing about the “overwhelming and painful” loss her neighborhood had endured including schools and playgrounds that are “so special to our family,” and then sharing a tearful video in which she stated that many friends had lost homes, and her family was “waiting to see if our home will be there.”
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James Woods
James Woods sent out a message of gratitude as he revealed he also had to leave his home. “To all the wonderful people who’ve reached out to us, thank you for being so concerned. Just letting you know that we were able to evacuate successfully. I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing, but sadly houses on our little street are not,” he tweeted just before 4:00 p.m. on Jan. 7.
He later confirmed on CNN that his house had been lost: “One day you’re swimming in the pool, the next day it’s all gone.”
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Chrissy Teigen
Mom of four Chrissy Teigen emotionally shared that she was “packing” to evacuate the home she shares with her husband John Legend amid the fires. Teigen shared an Instagram Stories post of her filling a large black bag from her closet. “This is surreal,” she said, adding that she was “very scared.”
The star, 39, had earlier described the blazes as a “hellscape.”
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Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough, 36, shared a video via Instagram Stories of her evacuating her Hollywood Hills home. The Dancing With the Stars host said, “So, there is a fire right by my house. We’re with friends, but anybody that’s in the Hollywood Hills, I’ve just been having this intuitive feeling that we’re in a bowl of how everything is surrounding Hollywood, and now this is at the center of Hollywood.”
She concluded by urging neighbors to get out. “Everybody needs to just evacuate. Go, go, go, go, go. Right now,” she said.
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Kate Beckinsale
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Kate Beckinsale mourned the loss of the Pacific Palisades community that has played a large part in her family’s life.
“My daughter and I lived there for most of her childhood and most of her childhood is gone,” she wrote. “Her primary school, every shop or restaurant we used to go to with my parents and Michael’s parents -and devastatingly, most of her friends homes. My heart is broken.”
She continued, “The Pacific Palisades is a community very unusual to find in Los Angeles, heavy on families with young children and pets. I’m weeping for all of the people and pets involved, so many of them I know. My heart is breaking for the families who have lost everything, and the people and their animals, not to mention the horses and all the wild animals, people’s businesses and livelihoods. This is just like hell.”
“If anyone from village needs shelter and doesn’t still have a number for me ,please contact me on Instagram,” she concluded.
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Rob McElhenney
Actor Rob McElhenney, 47, shared with his Instagram followers that his family was “safe,” but added, “so many homes, whole neighborhoods are just….gone.” The star, who bought Wrexham FC with Ryan Reynolds in 2021, noted that “everyone in our lives” was “reaching out” to ensure their safety. He said the gesture made their hearts “so full.”
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Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore is leaning on her loved ones as she and her family (and pets) were also forced to evacuate.
“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.”
She posted a second update on Jan. 8, saying she was “absolutely numb” to see the devastation in her hometown of Altadena.
“I’m in shock and feeling numb for all so many have lost, including my family. My children’s school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled. So many friends and loved ones have lost everything too. Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together. Sending love to all affected and on the front lines trying to get this under control,” she wrote.
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Sandra Lee
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Sandra Lee says she had to evacuate her Malibu home as the blazing flames drew closer.
“My home in Malibu has got me through some of the darkest moments in my life. I have loved creating it, embellishing it, building it, caring for it, and protecting it. I’ve cherished every moment I have had with it,” she shared on Instagram on Jan. 7.
“As the fire draws closer, I pray for it—- I pray for everyone in Los Angeles right now. What an incredibly terrifying moment for my community. As the fire reaches our doorstep, please stay in contact with each other; Community in times like these is our lifeline.”
On January 8, she updated followers to say she’d heard conflicting things about whether her home was still standing. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out. I just don’t know. But this time reminds me of my grandmothers favorite ‘footprints in the Sand.’ It’s in gods hands,” she wrote.
JJ Reddick’s Family
L.A. Lakers coach JJ Redick revealed that his family were “freaking out” as they were among those forced to evacuate their home amid the fires.
Ahead of the Lakers vs. Mavericks game in Dallas on Jan. 7, Redick sent his “thoughts and prayers to everyone in the Palisades right now,” adding, “that’s where I live.”
According to the AP, he noted, “Our family, my wife’s family, my wife’s twin sister, they’ve evacuated. I know a lot of people are freaking out right now, including my family.”
“Thoughts and prayers for sure, and hope everyone stays safe.”
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Eugene Levy
Schitt’s Creek star Eugene Levy, 78, told the L.A. Times that he’d found himself “stuck” by “black and intense” smoke over Temescal Canyon as he tried to leave his home. “I couldn’t see any flames but the smoke was very dark,” the actor added.
His son, Dan Levy, posted to Instagram Stories, “Heartbroken for my family, my friends and the people of L.A. affected by these catastrophic fires.”
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Mark Hamill
Mark Hamill shared a “personal fire update” with followers on Instagram, revealing that he’d been evacuated from Malibu at 7 p.m. alongside his wife Marilou and their dog Trixie. The Star Wars actor said he arrived safely at his daughter “Chelsea’s house in Hollywood and urged everyone to “stay safe,” before noting that they were the “most horrific fires since ’93,” and that his family had been “fleeing for our lives.”
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Jamie Lee Curtis
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Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that though her house wasn’t affected, her entire neighborhood “is gone.”
“Our beloved neighborhood is gone. Our home is safe. So many others have lost everything. Help where you can. Thank you to the first responders and firefighters. @americanredcross.” (She also used her emotional appearance on the Tonight Show Wednesday to advocate for packing an emergency bag, in her role as an American Red Cross ambassador.)
She later posted a tribute to a local church that burned and had special significance to her.
“This is the church in the Palisades that had a beautiful Sunday school and school and was a gorgeous house of worship and is the building that I got sober in 25 years ago,” she wrote. “I think of all of the souls who came there for comfort and solace and all the baptisms and funerals and weddings and the thousands of people who reclaimed their lives through Sobriety. … Tough times. We will persevere. God bless you all.”
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Jennifer Love Hewitt
“I have no words. Only prayers and holding as much hope as I can for our home and our kids while we watch everything burn,” actress Jennifer Love Hewitt wrote on Instagram.
“Thank you to every first responder fighting so hard for all of us. Thank you to every friend who reached out and new person I have hugged in tears in the last 24 hours. 💔🙏🏻”
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Tara Lipinski
Olympian Tara Lipinski shared an aerial view of her street, saying she’d just found out that her house still appears to be standing but she’s devastated about the condition of her neighborhood.
“The most important update is that Todd, Georgie, Sully and I are safe. It’s the only thing I have been saying on repeat to myself – that I am so grateful for them and our safety. But the last 24 hours have been horrific for my family, my neighbors, the firefighters, first responders and for everyone in this community,” she wrote.
She thanked everyone working to put the fire out, and expressed gratitude for the loved ones supporting her during the past few horrible days: “Your heartfelt messages have kept me going. I have read them over and over again. The way you stayed up late trying to find updates, the tears, the words that reminded me of your love for me and reminders that I am strong enough to get through hard things. Thank you. I’m beyond lucky to have the people in my life that I do. Even in this destruction there is so much to be grateful for.”
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Maria Shriver
Maria Shriver also posted a video chronicling the devastation across her neighborhood. “Heartbreaking, devastating, beyond belief,” she wrote in part.
“Everything is gone. Our neighborhood, our restaurants. All our friends have lost everything. We have evacuated, but are safe. But people have lost everything.”
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Alabama and Landon Barker
Travis Barker’s children Alabama and Landon — whom he shares with ex Shanna Moakler — also revealed to their followers that they had to evacuate via Instagram Stories. Landon shared a selfie and noted that he was “praying” for everyone affected, while his sister urged her followers to “be safe.”
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Steve Guttenberg
Police Academy and Three Men and a Baby star Steve Guttenberg lent a hand to the LAFD and assisted in the Pacific Palisades evacuations.
In an interview with local news station KTLA, he urged fellow residents to leave the keys in their cars so he and others can move them to help fire crews pass through as they attempt to battle the blaze.
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Elizabeth Chambers
After sharing photos of the Palisades High School grounds on fire and encouraging her L.A.-based fans to gas up their cars and seek shelter where possible, Elizabeth Chambers revealed in her Instagram Stories that she also had to evacuate and was now staying with her sister.
