How the LA Fires Are Impacting Hollywood

The wildfires currently raging near Los Angeles have devastated large areas of land and affected numerous individuals. By Thursday morning, at least five lives have been tragically lost, over 50,000 acres, including many homes, have been reduced to ashes, and both Governor Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden have issued emergency declarations and a major disaster designation, respectively.

In the area, the Palisades fire – the largest among several currently burning – ignited on Tuesday under a combination of circumstances such as strong winds, causing widespread destruction in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood known for its star residents. On Wednesday evening, another significant blaze, dubbed the Sunset fire, started near Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles County. This fire poses a threat to iconic landmarks like the Hollywood Bowl, the Walk of Fame, and the Dolby and TCL Chinese theaters. As of Wednesday night, the Sunset fire has spread over 43 acres without any containment, as reported by CAL FIRE.

How the LA Fires Are Impacting Hollywood

Amidst the widespread fires in and around Hollywood, let’s explore how these blazes have impacted various sectors within the entertainment industry up until now.

Celebrities evacuated and homes damaged

Celebrities took to social media to reveal that the wildfires in Los Angeles had caused damage to their homes and surrounding areas, necessitating their departure from those locations.

In an interview on CNN, James Woods – who starred in “Once Upon a Time in America” – was overcome with emotion as he discussed the devastation caused by the Palisades fire to his home. He shared that one moment he could be enjoying a swim in his pool, and the next, everything had vanished. The 77-year-old actor reflected, “It’s a test of your soul, losing everything all at once, I have to say.

On Instagram, Paris Hilton posted a news video about the fires, accompanied by this message: “Watching our Malibu home go up in flames on live television while gathered with my family is an ordeal nobody should ever endure.

A post shared by Paris Hilton (@parishilton)

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who won an Oscar, posted photos on Instagram showing the devastation of her neighborhood due to fires. In one message, she said, “Our cherished community no longer exists.” She added that their home was spared but many others have lost everything. She urged people to help where they can and thanked the emergency responders and firefighters for their efforts.

A post shared by Jamie Lee Curtis (@jamieleecurtis)

In an Instagram post, renowned actor Cary Elwes from The Princess Bride, revealed that his family’s home was tragically destroyed by the Palisades fire. However, they remain thankful as everyone in their family has miraculously escaped the horrific blaze.

Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren shared on Instagram a photo of a charred rock along with an update about her beach house in the Los Angeles area, stating: “I’ve owned this house for nearly 30 years. It appears it was destroyed by last night’s fire.” Warren, who also owns an animal rescue ranch nearby in Malibu, commented, “Fortunately, the animals and the rescue ranch are safe, which is what truly matters most.

As a passionate film buff, I couldn’t help but share an update from none other than the legendary Star Wars actor, Mark Hamill. In his recent Instagram post, he detailed his sudden evacuation from Malibu. He mentioned that just as he was approaching the Pacific Coast Highway, there were small fires on either side of the road.

Actress Mandy Moore, best known for her role in “This Is Us,” along with her family, were forced to evacuate their home in Altadena due to the Eaton wildfire located farther east in Los Angeles. On Instagram, Moore posted videos of the fires, expressing her disbelief and sadness: “I’m in shock and feeling numb for all those who have lost, including my family. My children’s school has been destroyed. Our favorite eateries are no more. Many friends and loved ones have lost everything too. Although our community is shattered, we will come together to rebuild. Sending love to everyone affected and working tirelessly to control this situation.

A post shared by Mandy Moore (@mandymooremm)

Hollywood’s peak award season disrupted

Due to the ongoing wildfires, numerous major events in Hollywood have been disrupted. As the awards season draws near, there could potentially be further disruptions.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the Academy Awards was originally set to end on January 12, but due to the wildfires, it has been extended by two days, and the announcement of the nominees is now scheduled for January 19. This information was reported by Variety, and in an email to members, Academy CEO Bill Kramer expressed his heartfelt condolences to those affected by the fires that have devastated Southern California. Many of the Academy’s members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, so they are keeping them in their thoughts during this difficult time.

Instead of having an in-person ceremony on January 8th in Los Angeles to reveal the Screen Actors Guild award nominations, these nominations were published on the SAG website instead.

As a film enthusiast, I was looking forward to the Critics Choice Awards scheduled for January 12 in Santa Monica. However, due to the ongoing tragedy of the devastating fires in our community, the event has been postponed to January 26. This is a difficult time for all of us, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those fighting these fires and everyone impacted by them. – [Your Name]

The AFI Awards lunch event, set for January 10th in Beverly Hills (as reported by Deadline), has been rescheduled. Similarly, the BAFTA Tea Party, another significant gathering of stars before the Oscars, initially scheduled for January 11th, has been called off. The organizers expressed their concern for everyone’s safety in Los Angeles as their top priority and extended their sympathies to those affected.

How the LA Fires Are Impacting Hollywood

Productions delayed

The wildfires have additionally led to interruptions in ongoing filming activities. According to “The Hollywood Reporter”, popular shows such as ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, Apple TV+’s “Loot”, CBS’s “After Midnight”, “NCIS”, “NCIS: Origins”, “The Neighborhood”, and “Poppa’s House”, Max’s “Hacks”, NBC’s “Happy’s Place” and “Suits LA”, and Peacock’s “Ted”, as well as numerous others, temporarily halted production due to the fires.

On January 8th, FilmLA, the Los Angeles city and county’s film office, announced that they had withdrawn filming permits for areas such as Altadena, La Crescenta, La Cañada Flintridge, and Unincorporated Pasadena – locations frequently used in productions. These areas have been impacted by the Eaton fire, and additional permits may also be canceled.

2025-01-09 13:06