Roving Periscope: LA’s devastating fires cause $60 bn loss as H’wood celebrities flee
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Several Hollywood celebrities, whose palatial mansions turned into ashes, are reported to have fled the raging fires in Los Angeles where at least 10 people have died and nearly 20,000 acres of forested land have turned into rubble this week, the media reported on Friday.
The fires have displaced nearly 180,000 residents and left half a million people without power since Tuesday.
The National Weather Service described the situation as “about as severe as it gets,” issuing a red flag warning affecting 19 million people. While the region has seen some drought relief in recent years, 2025 has begun with record-dry conditions, intensifying the problem.
Extreme weather, water shortages, and firefighting constraints turned the Pacific Palisades fires into one of the most devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County’s history. Southern California has experienced severe drought, receiving less than 10 percent of its average rainfall since October 2024. Together with powerful Santa Ana winds with hourly speeds exceeding 60 miles (97 km), these conditions dramatically accelerated the spread of flames. It has remained a nightmare for firefighters as the fire continued to spread, devastating even larger areas.
Several Hollywood celebrities—Mel Gibson, Billy Crystal, Jeff Bridges, Paris Hilton, etc—have either lost their homes or fled, the reports said.
Official reports confirmed on Thursday that at least 10 people have been killed, and more than 10,000 homes, businesses, and other buildings were damaged or destroyed in the Palisades and Eaton fires. Around 5,300 structures were destroyed in the Palisades fire alone, while an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 buildings were impacted by the Eaton fire in the Altadena area.
Several critical factors, including extreme weather conditions, rapid fire spread, Pacific Palisades’ unique geography, and water supply issues, created a perfect storm for firefighters already facing enormous challenges, including severe criticism from President-elect Donald Trump and Tesla chief Elon Musk.
The origin of the wind-driven fire has been traced to a location behind a home on Piedra Morada Drive. Investigators are focusing on deliberate arson and utility line faults. To date, no official evidence of arson has emerged, and utility lines have not been implicated.
Other potential causes under scrutiny include debris burning, fireworks, and accidents. In 2021, for example, an event caused a fire that devastated nearly 36 square miles and destroyed multiple structures.
The water supply system faced immense strain. Within hours of the Palisades fire igniting, the city’s water tanks were drained as demand quadrupled. Officials urged the people to save water at home as they could face even drinking water crisis. Water pressure dropped significantly, and fighting a fast-moving fire in steep terrain became even more challenging. Strong winds also grounded helicopters, preventing aerial suppression efforts.
Besides, historic drought conditions and water-restricting policies may have contributed to fire hydrants running dry, a National Geographic report said.
The Pacific Palisades’ unique geography posed significant challenges for firefighters. Located at the junction of suburban areas and wildland hillsides, the region contains fire-prone chaparral vegetation such as manzanita and scrub oak. This naturally fire-prone ecosystem is also home to high-value properties, complicating containment efforts.
US federal analysis ranks Los Angeles County’s wildfire risk among the highest in the country, with areas like Pacific Palisades and Hollywood Hills marked as “very high fire hazard severity.”
Experts have criticized the expansion of housing into known fire zones, noting that human activity has increased fire frequency, which historically occurred every 30-130 years.
Firefighting efforts were severely hampered by resource limitations. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone highlighted a shortage of firefighters to manage multiple fires and overwhelmed departments unable to respond to four large-scale fires simultaneously.
Water supply interruptions, decreased water pressure, and drained fire hydrants created a “worst-case scenario” for firefighting teams.
On Friday, the Palisades and Eaton fires continued to burn with minimal containment. Despite a reduction in wind intensity, the absence of rain in the forecast means the flames persist, consuming dry landscapes.
Several Hollywood celebrities announced that they had evacuated their homes. This includes model Chrissy Teigen and her husband, John Legend; James Woods; comedian Marc Maron; and actor Mark Hamill from Star Wars.
