The fire started on January 7 in Pacific Palisades, then spread rapidly to Malibu and Santa Monica. As of the morning of January 9, the Los Angeles Fire Department said the fire in Palisades had not yet been brought under control. Other fires in the area, including Eaton, Woodley, Lidia and Hurst, are also continuing at a very low level of control.
On the evening of January 8, a new fire called Sunset Fire broke out in Hollywood Hills, threatening iconic areas like the Hollywood Bowl. The evacuation order was lifted the next morning after firefighters controlled the situation. However, Sunswept Fire, another fire at Studio City, spread from one house to the surrounding area before being largely extinguished.
Many Hollywood stars such as Paris Hilton, Mandy Moore, Billy Crystal, Diane Warren, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag have confirmed losing their homes in the fire. Paris Hilton expressed her grief on Instagram when her house in Malibu burned down: "Sitting with the family, watching the news and seeing our house burst into ashes is a real feeling that no one should go through. That is where we build precious memories".
Billy Crystal, a comedian and one of the most famous MCs at the Oscars, also lost his nearly 50-year-old home in Pacific Palisades. In a joint statement, they shared: "We are heartbroken by the devastation that we and many of our neighbors are witnessing."
Mandy Moore, a star in the film This Is Us, confirmed that her house in altadena was completely destroyed in the Eaton fire. She shared: "My beloved house is now just a pile of ashes. I was really Numb."
Cameron Mathison, the actor of General Hospital, posted a picture of his house being completely destroyed. He wrote: "This is where my children grew up, and they dreamed of raising their children here."
Many other artists such as Bozoma Saint John, Diane Warren, Denise Crosby and Melissa Rivers also confirmed losing their homes, sharing heartbreaking memories and gratitude for their family's safety. Bozoma Saint John calls his home "where I find peace and overcome hardship."
Not only houses, many iconic sites and cultural assets were also seriously affected. While firefighters are still trying their best, the increasing level of damage has caused thousands of families to suffer immeasurable losses.
