The Los Angeles wildfires continue to wreak havoc, with celebrities among those affected by the devastating blazes.
From Malibu to Pacific Palisades and Altadena, stars have taken to social media to share their heartbreak over losing homes or witnessing the devastation in their neighborhoods.
Nearly 180,000 people were under evacuation orders in Los Angeles County on Thursday, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. NBC News reports that another 200,000 residents are under evacuation warnings.
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On Thursday, Ricki Lake shared a timeline of “the day we lost our home” – from the moment they saw “early signs of smoke” around 11:24 a.m. on January 7 to the moment “we finally gave up our efforts and left our home at 20 :02”
“Grateful that I made it out alive and unscathed,” Lake wrote. “If we had stayed, I’m sure we wouldn’t have survived.”
Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins also reportedly lost his home to the flames. When he first appeared on Instagram, he wrote: “As we all struggle to heal from the devastation of these fires, it is important that we remember that the only thing we take with us is the love we give.”
Actor and director Mel Gibson revealed on NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas reports that his home in Malibu was also destroyed.
Gibson was in Austin, Texas, appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast when the fire first broke out: “I was like, ‘Um, I wonder if my place is still there.’ When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there,” he explained. “It’s emotional. I had my stuff there. I am freed from the burden of my things because it is all in cinders.
Actress Keleigh Teller and husband Miles Teller also lost their home. In a heartfelt post shared on Instagram, Keleigh thanked her fans and loved ones for all the support.
“To everyone who has reached out, I can’t thank you enough. Your kind hearts meant the world, I will never forget them,” she wrote alongside the before and after photos of the devastation.
She added: ‘I wish I had packed my wedding dress. I wish I would have done it completely differently, but whatever, stay safe, get out. There are no words. THANK YOU to the fighting first responders.”
This is us star Milo Ventimiglia appeared CBS Evening News to say that, unlike his co-star Mandy Moore, whose house was badly damaged, his house was completely destroyed in the flames. Standing amid the devastation, Ventimiglia described feeling “heavy” emotions.
“It hits you so fast,” he said, holding back tears. “You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house… [and] your heart just breaks.”
In an example of life imitating art, the character of Ventimiglia emerges This is us, in which he starred with Moore, also experiences his house burning down.
Paris Hilton, who previously reported on the destruction of her Malibu home by flames, continued to share images of the destruction.
“I’m standing here in what used to be our house, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable,” she said Thursday. “When I first saw the news, I was completely shocked; I couldn’t process it. But now that I’m standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, I feel like my heart has been broken into a million pieces.”
Hilton continued: “What breaks my heart even more is knowing that this isn’t just my story. So many people have lost everything. It’s not just walls and roofs, it’s the memories that made those houses a home.”
Comedian Pete Lee appeared on The tonight show last night and said he too lost his Palisades home in the fire.
“My house burned down yesterday,” he told the studio audience before acknowledging that his “humble home” was in ashes. Still, the comedian reflected on his loss with some humor, later sharing a photo of himself backstage in a bathrobe: “I lost my house in the #palisadesfire, and then I lost my pants,” he joked.
Tatum O’Neal revealed in comments on social media that her late father Ryan O’Neal’s home was among those destroyed. Meanwhile, Matthew Perry’s former home in the Pacific Palisades was spared despite initial reports of its destruction.
Former child star Haley Joel Osment shared on his Instagram Stories that his Altadena home was “mostly destroyed” and told his followers that “pets and people were rescued, but family, friends and neighbors lost everything – including me.”
“Every time I drove home my heart was so full – it was such a special place – I loved living there – our forest and our mountains and our houses – all gone,” he wrote. “I am so sorry for the losses suffered by thousands of people and I try to etch in my mind the unique details of this beautiful city that are gone forever.”
Others, like Rainn Wilson and his wife, Holiday Reinhorn, confirmed that their home was spared, despite rumors to the contrary.
Wilson noted that their north Los Angeles home suffered fire damage months ago that was unrelated to the current Palisades fire. “There are people who have it much worse than we do right now,” Wilson said.
Married to actors Bryan Greenberg and Jamie Chung, known for their roles in How to make it in America And Lovecraft countryrespectively shared heartbreaking photos of their neighborhood and their family home in ashes.
“It was all a dream,” Greenberg shared on Instagram on Thursday. “Fortunately the family is safe. Thank you to all the firefighters who risk their lives. Stay safe out there.”
Not long after the couple evacuated their home, Chung posted on Instagram to thank the “brave firefighters” for their service.
“Thank you to all our brave firefighters and firefighters,” she wrote. ‘If you are in a red alert area, make sure your bags are ready to go. Safety first. I pray for all the families affected by the fires.”
Harvey Guillén, best known for What we do in the shadowsshared emotional images of his childhood neighborhood, which is now completely destroyed.
“My sweet, beautiful town that made me feel like I was in another world… my neighbors… all that matters is that you are safe… the nicest people… most hospitable… we will rebuild… we will do it one day at a time,” he said alongside a series of clips showing the destruction.
CSI: Miami And The West Wing actress Emily Procter appeared on CNN’s The leadership to share that she too lost her Pacific Palisades home in the fires.
“All those homes are not structures, they’re actually microcosms of people’s lives,” she told host Jake Tapper, noting that the loss is about much more than just material things.
“I’m so grateful that I survived; it is my home,” she said. “It’s my neighborhood. It’s my community. And so when you see it burning, it’s not the things. … Things at that level were survivable. But what we mourn is our lives.”
The fires have also affected structures with deep cultural and cinematic significance. Reports indicate that Palisades Charter High School is a location featured in films such as Carrie, Crazy Friday And Crazy/beautifulwas severely damaged in the fire.
