More than 30,000 people have been evacuated from the coastal area of Los Angeles known as Pacific Palisades after two wildfires erupted there on Tuesday evening due to strong winds.
The chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department stated that the flames pose a threat to 10,000 homes in the area between Malibu and Santa Monica, where many celebrities reside.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who declared a state of emergency, mentioned that during his visit to the affected area, he observed "many structures already destroyed by flames", although he noted that it is still too early to assess the extent of the damage.
According to local media, several individuals have been injured, with some suffering from burns on their faces and hands. A female firefighter sustained a head injury.
On Wednesday morning, emergency services reported a third fire spreading north of Pasadena, leading to the evacuation of about a hundred residents from a nursing home.
The fire toppled several trees on the grounds of the Getty Villa, which houses ancient art. According to Katherine Fleming, head of the Getty Foundation, the collection remains intact, largely due to preventive measures taken to trim shrubs around the buildings.
The disaster area is home to several Hollywood stars, including Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Tom Hanks, and Reese Witherspoon. Celebrities have been sharing their experiences on social media.
Actor James Woods ("Once Upon a Time in America," "Breakdown," "Casino") posted that he managed to evacuate but added: "At this point, I don't know if our house has survived".
Mark Hamill from "Star Wars" reported that he was able to leave his home "at the last minute".
Due to the fires, roads became congested, with some abandoning their cars and fleeing on foot.
The premieres of the films "The Expendables" from Amazon MGM and "Wolfman" from Universal, scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles, were canceled due to the fires.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards ceremony, originally planned for Wednesday, will be held online, according to a statement from the organization.
Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden stated that he and his team are in contact with state authorities and have offered "any federal assistance" necessary to combat the fires and address the aftermath of the disaster.