Pacific Palisades Fire engulfs homes on mountain
Reality TV star Spencer Pratt filmed fire engulfing his home and others in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood after he and wife Heidi Montag were forced to evacuate. (Credit: Spencer Pratt / Snapchat)
A wildfire raging through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate as it consumes homes in the ritzy area, including those belonging to celebrities.
The Palisades Fire, driven by strong Santa Ana winds, began in the Santa Monica Mountains late Tuesday morning and quickly engulfed 200 acres within an hour, surging to nearly 3,000 acres by sunset, FOX Weather reported.
Orange County Fire Chief Brian Fennessy joined "Fox News @ Night" on Tuesday to give an update on how firefighters are battling the fast-moving flames, but said there isn't much that can be done to stop them, so crews are focusing on evacuating and rescuing anyone still in the area.
"Our main focus is getting people, lives out of the way of these fires," Fennessy said. "There's not a lot we can do other than get people out of the way of these fires and then try to attack them … certainly in the Palisades, that's been the story today."
A firefighter battles the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (Jill Connelly/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Ricki Lake shared photos of her beautiful Malibu property, alerting followers that she had lost her "dream home" in the fires. "It’s all gone," she wrote, beneath a series of photos of her home before the fire. "I can’t believe I am typing these words."
Lake says that "a valiant and brave effort" was made by their friend to save the home, but they unfortunately did not succeed. "The place where we planned to grow old together. We never took our heavenly spot on the bluff overlooking our beloved malibu for granted, not even for one second. I shared our sunset views almost daily with all of you."
Ricki Lake's Malibu home burned down in the fires. (Chris Haston/NBC via Getty Images)
"This loss is immeasurable. It’s the spot where we got married 3 years ago," she said, referencing her third marriage to Ross Burningham. "I grief (sic) along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event. Praying for all of my neighbors, my friends, my community, the animals, the firefighters and first responders. More to share soon of how we escaped with Dolly and not much else. For now I grieve," she concluded.
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"General Hospital" actor Cameron Mathison, who evacuated the area on Tuesday, shared a video on Instagram of his property, completely decimated by the fire.
Cameron Mathison shared that his family's home has been destroyed. (Getty Images)
"We are safe But this is what’s left of our beautiful home," he wrote. "Our home where our kids were raised and where they wanted to raise their own someday. "Thanks to all who reached out and checked in. Can’t respond to all so wanted to give an update here."
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Reality TV star Spencer Pratt and wife Heidi Montag lost their home in the Palisades Fire, Pratt and Montag confirmed on their Snapchat accounts Tuesday.
In a series of videos, "The Hills" star showed how the fire quickly moved over the hill toward their property.
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"Well, this isn't looking good," Pratt said while videoing the fire on the mountain behind their home. "First time I've seen the flames coming over. Aw, man. Okay, I'm going to go pack up I think."
He later posted a video from his car stating that he was watching their home burn down on their security cameras. Pratt shared a photo of his kid's room, saying it had burned in the shape of a heart.
Spencer Pratt shared imagery from inside his home, captured by security cameras. (Spencer Pratt/Snapchat)
Montag posted a video in a grocery store stating that their house did burn, but they are safe.
"Well, this isn't looking good. First time I've seen the flames coming over. Aw man. OK, I'm going to go pack up I think."
Reality TV star Spencer Pratt shared a picture from his security camera as his house was engulfed by the Palisades Fire. (Spencer Pratt/Snapchat)
TV personality and model Brooke Burke, who evacuated her Malibu home last month during the Franklin Fire, told Fox News Digital that "it's an absolute s--- show," in Los Angeles. "I have at least a handful of my very close friends that [have] lost their homes. It’s devastating and it’s not over yet. We are sleeping on our couch, kids and animals in different places. I cannot believe what’s happening [in] my community."
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"Star Wars" actor Mark Hamill, who also lives in Malibu, told followers that he had evacuated "so last-minute" that fires had formed on both sides of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) - his avenue out of the city. "We were fleeing for our lives," he wrote in a post to Instagram. Hamill says he, his wife Marilou and dog Trixie evacuated to his daughter Chelsea's home in Hollywood. Last month, Hamill was "not allowed" to leave his home, forced into lockdown mode when the fires hit his city.
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Jamie Lee Curtis wrote that her "community and possibly my home is on fire," to social media, along with a harrowing image of the wildfires. "My family is safe. Many of my friends will lose their homes. Many other communities as well. There are so many conflicting reports. With all the technology there seems to be very little information. PLEASE POST FACTS! IT WILL HELP THOSE WONDERING!"
She continued, "It is a terrifying situation and I'm grateful to the firefighters and all of the good Samaritans who are helping people get out of the way of the blaze. Neighbors have taken care of neighbors. We ALL take everything for granted because we are all living our lives but when it hits your community, it's particularly shocking. Life on life's terms. If ever there was need for the use of the phrase MY HAND IN YOURS, it is right now. Take care of each other. Stay out of the way and let the firefighters do their work. Pray if you believe in it and even if you don't, pray for those who do."
Actress Mandy Moore shared on her Instagram story that she and her three children, as well as cats and dogs, were able to evacuate, writing "Praying and grateful for the first responders." On Wednesday morning, the actress shared that her friends had opened their home as a shelter, although she wasn't sure if her own house had made it through the night.
"Trying to shield the kids from the immense sadness and worry I feel," she wrote on her Instagram story. "Praying for our beautiful city. So gutted for the destruction and loss. Don't know if our place made it."
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"Beverly Hills, 90210" actress Jennie Garth shared on Wednesday that she was fleeing her home due to the shift in winds. Garth said she was able to salvage pictures, even taking some off the walls.
Chris Pratt posted on X and asked that people join him in praying for "the brave firefighters sacrificing so much to save our houses and our town."
"Jesus protect the lives of those battling the flames and the lives of those who couldn’t evacuate," he wrote.
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Former Food Network personality Sandra Lee shared scary videos of her beloved Malibu. "My home in Malibu has got me through some of the darkest moments in my life. I have loved creating it, embellishing it, building it, caring for it, and protecting it. I’ve cherished every moment I have had with it. As the fire draws closer, I pray for it—- I pray for everyone in Los Angeles right now. What an incredibly terrifying moment for my community," she wrote.
"As the fire reaches our doorstep, please stay in contact with each other; Community in times like these is our lifeline. We are all safe but the fire is inching closer to my slice of heaven in Malibu. When I was waitress at the Malibu Adobe back in 1989, I dreamed of a home like this (FOR ME) and worked my butt off for it. I am sad but I am sending all my love to all the first responders and firefighters who are literally giving it all they’ve got to keep us safe!!!"
Jennifer Love Hewitt took to Instagram to share her heartbreak. "I have no words. Only prayers and holding as much hope as I can for our home and our kids while we watch everything burn. Thank you to every first responder fighting so hard for all of us. Thank you to every friend who reached out and new person I have hugged in tears in the last 24 hours," she wrote.
Nashville resident Jessie James Decker shared ominous photos from Santa Monica. "This was earlier today during our shoot in Santa Monica right next to the fires," she captioned one photo featuring a plume of smoke. "My stomach is in knots for the city. Praying so hard for everyone's safety."
Jessie James Decker shared images from Santa Monica, where she was on location for work. (Jessie James Decker Instagram)
Eugene Levy, the honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades, told the Los Angeles Times in a phone interview that he was stuck in traffic and "smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon. I couldn't see any flames, but the smoke was very dark."
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Candace Cameron Bure shared a wildfire image online and wrote that it was "devastating to watch" as the Palisades fire roared on.
"Please pray the winds die down as it’s expected to get worse into the early morning hours," Bure wrote on Instagram. "Please pray for the safety of firefighters and emergency crews who are fearlessly trying to tackle this disaster. Pray for the safety of every resident."
"Jesus protect the lives of those battling the flames and the lives of those who couldn’t evacuate."
Priyanka Chopra shared similar eerie imagery, posting video of the wildfires from afar. "My thoughts are with everyone affected. Hope we are all able to stay safe tonight."
Priyanka Chopra shared striking video of the fires. (Priyanka Chopra/Instagram)
Travis Barker's children, Alabama and Landon Barker, both posted on Instagram stories that they were evacuating from their homes Tuesday night.
"Just evacuated from my home do to wild fires in Los Angeles, please be safe!!" Alabama wrote. "They are saying the fires are spreading football field amounts in seconds."
Actress Denise Crosby, also in a post on X, said that she is safe, along with her husband and dog, but she is not sure if she has a house.
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Crosby shared a video from a beach on Tuesday night and followed that post up with videos from earlier in the day showing smoke near an alley behind her home and from Sunset Boulevard.
Tom Hanks' son, Chet Hanks, posted on Instagram stories, "The neighborhood I grew up in is burning to the ground."
Actor James Woods posted a series of videos on X showing his home and neighbors' homes surrounded by smoke and flames. Woods said his family evacuated from the area safely, and commended first responders and community members for evacuating children from elementary schools within the neighborhood.
"To all the wonderful people who’ve reached out to us, thank you for being so concerned. Just letting you know that we were able to evacuate successfully," Woods wrote on X. "I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing, but sadly houses on our little street are not."
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"Shrinking" star Christa B. Miller posted a video of the flames from the Palisades fire and wrote that she was evacuating her neighborhood. She offered "love, prayers and gratitude to all the firefighters working so hard" in an Instagram post.
Professional dancer and "Dancing with the Stars" judge Derek Hough shared photos to his Instagram account of the fire and said he and his wife are preparing to evacuate with their pets. "The winds are hitting 100mph, and we're packing up, preparing to evacuate with our five animals JUST IN CASE," Hough wrote. "It's scary with power lines exploding around us and the fires spreading so fast."
Derek Hough shared that he was evacuating his home. (Christopher Willard/Disney via Getty Images)
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Hough continued his post by thanking firefighters for "risking everything to keep us safe" and said he is sending prayers and love to all firefighters and victims.
Former "Dancing with the Stars" pro Maksim Chermkovsky took video from outside his home in Los Angeles, where he showed sunny skies juxtaposed against dark ones. "We know people who lost everything. Lost their house…had to run, left the car. I mean it’s just nuts," he told the camera. He also reflected upon the fires in Malibu just last month, sharing that his family had hosted friends impacted at the time.
Kate Beckinsale, who previously lived in the Pacific Palisades area, wrote of her devasation for the community's loss. "Hearing the winds last night I prayed," she wrote to Instagram. "I knew it would be bad- we had to evacuate many times during our life there - but the shock at the whole of the Palisades being destroyed is unthinkably horrific. My daughter and I lived there for most of her childhood and most of her childhood is gone," she said, referencing her daughter, now 25.
Kate Beckinsale called the fires "hell" in an emotional social media post. (Taylor Hill/WireImage)
"Her primary school ,every shop or restaurant we used to go to with my parents and Michael’s [Sheen] parents -and devastatingly ,most of her friends homes .My heart is broken. The Pacific Palisades is a community very unusual to find in Los Angeles, heavy on families with young children and pets, . I’m weeping for all of the people and pets involved ,so many of them I know . My heart is breaking for the families who have lost everything and the people and their animals , not to mention the horses and all the wild animals. This is just like hell. If anyone from village needs shelter and doesn’t still have a number for me ,please contact me on Instagram."
Stars including Jessica Alba, Jennifer Aniston, Sophia Bush, Kendall Jenner and Billie Eilish have shared resources on social media for those impacted by the fires.
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