While drought, violent winds and abundant vegetation have contributed to the unprecedented intensity of the fires, Los Angeles is still in the grip of devastating flames. And the homes of stars have not been spared by this meteorological tragedy, which affects thousands of buildings more widely.
The start of 2025 is far from rosy for the City of Angels. Since 7 January, a series of fires has been affecting the South Carolina region. While the origin of the fires is still unknown, the toll continues to rise daily in terms of both human and material losses. More than 12,000 structures, including homes and apartment buildings, have been consumed by the flames. Among them were many multi-million dollar homes owned by celebrities who had taken up residence in the upmarket districts of Los Angeles.
A fire that spares no one
On Instagram, stars of song, film and entertainment shared emotional images and videos of their devastated homes. “We’ve lost everything… There’s nothing left” said Laeticia Hallyday on the social network about her Pacific Palisades villa, now reduced to ashes. “It housed our dreams, our secrets, our promises for tomorrow. But above all, it helped us to get back on our feet, to rebuild ourselves after the unimaginable absence of my husband. This house was our refuge in the chaos of grief, our anchor when everything went wrong.”
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In the same district, the mansion of actors Adam Brody (Gilmore Girls) and Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) also went up in smoke, as did that of film giant Anthony Hopkins. Actor and director Billy Crystal and his wife Janice also lost their home in Pacific Palisades, where they had lived since 1979. ‘We raised our children and grandchildren there. Every inch of our home was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away,’ the couple told People. French singer Patrick Bruel was equally distressed, confessing: ‘It’s very hard to see the roots you work so hard to build disappear. It was a beautiful anchor, another refuge.’
In Malibu, Paris Hilton’s property is now just a pile of ashes. ‘This house wasn’t just a place to live – it was the place where we dreamed, laughed and created the most beautiful memories as a family. It was where the little hands of Phoenix created works of art that I will treasure forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes… it’s devastating beyond words,’ said the media personality and businesswoman on Instagram.
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Britney Spears, Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck, Mel Gibson, Steven Spielberg, Jamie Lee Curtis, Harrison Ford, John Legend, Tina Knowles (Beyoncé’s mother), Jennifer Grey, Anna Faris, Eugene Levy, Jeff Bridges, Bryan Greenberg, Jamie Chung, Milo Ventimiglia, Mandy Moore, John Goodman… So many stars who had to be evacuated from their homes or who watched in horror as their properties were destroyed.
Solidarity from stars and private actors quickly put in place
While many celebrities have lost their multi-million dollar luxury homes, some have announced donations to help cope with the tragedy. Singer Beyoncé’s charitable foundation, BeyGOOD, has donated $2.5 million to the Los Angeles Fire Relief Fund, which is helping families affected by the disaster. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis has pledged a donation of $1 million.
Lily-Rose Depp appealed to her followers for donations to support a couple of friends in need, as did the Duchess and Duke of Sussex, Meghan and Harry. Kim Kardashian donated clothes and underwear from her Skims brand to the fire victims. Sharon Stone opened her home to friends and distributed essentials to the victims.
As far as private companies are concerned, the Walt Disney Company has pledged 15 million dollars in financial aid. Paramount and Fox Corp, as well as Warner Music and the Blavatnik Foundation, have all donated one million dollars. Apple is also expected to make a donation, the amount of which has not been revealed. In addition to major institutions and public figures, a flood of volunteers continues to help victims and support firefighters on the front line.
Wind, drought, vegetation, urbanisation… All the conditions for a serious diagnosis
While global warming is once again playing a key role in the intensity of this fire, there are a number of factors behind these out-of-control blazes. Drought is one of the main factors. According to the National Weather Service recording station, only 4 mm of rain fell between June and December 2024, well below seasonal normals. On top of this, there are the extremely violent Santa Ana winds, with gusts reaching up to 160 km/h at times, according to the US weather service. An explosive cocktail, spreading and rekindling the fire at breakneck speed. Not to mention the dense, dry vegetation, perfect fuel for the flames. The town has also been criticised for its lack of maintenance and undergrowth clearance.
Urbanisation is also a factor. With the increase in activity in the region, the relationship between nature and man is struggling to find a balance. Close to forests, houses lined up in rows contribute to the spread of fires, with fire jumping from building to building. What’s more, the presence of humans multiplies the potential sources of disaster, from discarded cigarette butts to clandestine barbecues and fallen power lines.
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Experts and firefighters also pointed to a major problem that would have disrupted the effectiveness of the response: the lack of water in reserves and empty hydrants. Once again, the authorities are being singled out for their poor management, but also for the budget cuts that have penalised fire-fighting professionals.
According to a press release issued on the evening of Sunday 12 January by the Los Angeles County Forensics Department, the death toll is currently 24, but is expected to rise as the search for the missing continues. The damage caused by the fires is expected to run into tens of billions of dollars.
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Featured photo : Pacific Palisades fires, Los Angeles © Getty Images
