The Palisades fire, fuelled by fierce winds, has left celebrities including Tom Hanks and his family at risk as it rages through the upscale Pacific Palisades neighbourhood in Los Angeles.
The blaze broke out on Tuesday, January 7, and has already destroyed homes and forced 30,000 residents to evacuate.
Chet Hanks, the son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, expressed his concern on Instagram, writing, “The neighbourhood I grew up in is burning to the ground… Pray for Palisades.”
Chet Hanks, who now lives in Nashville, reflected on the loss of his childhood home, which his parents purchased for $26 million in 2010.
As of Wednesday, over 70,000 people in Los Angeles are under evacuation orders due to multiple wildfires. Hanks and Wilson have yet to comment publicly.
Other notable figures impacted by the fire include Ben Affleck, whose $20 million home was threatened by the flames. He was seen evacuating and reportedly heading to his ex-wife Jennifer Garner’s nearby Brentwood residence.
The fire has been driven southwest by Santa Ana winds, some reaching speeds near 160 km/h. Pacific Palisades, along with Topanga and Malibu, remains under mandatory evacuation orders. The fire also scorched grounds at the Getty Villa, though the building was unharmed.
Hollywood figures such as Bradley Cooper, Adam Sandler, Reese Witherspoon, and Steven Spielberg are among the area’s residents, while actor Steve Guttenberg was spotted helping to clear a path for evacuees.
Amid the chaos, major film premieres were cancelled due to safety concerns surrounding the fire.
