Hollywood stars lose homes as out-of-control wildfires engulf Los Angeles

As the city’s worst wildfires ever to spread to the sky were visible from space on Thursday morning, the Hollywood Hills were igniting uncontrollably.

The Hollywood Hills’ heartland was threatened by the fast-paced blaze on Wednesday night as firefighters battled to contain it amid dry, hurricane-force winds that slowed down operations and spread the flames.

At least five wildfires were burning in Los Angeles County at the time, putting 130, 000 people under evacuation orders as the fire ravaged inland Pasadena and the Pacific Coast.

The flames that tore through some of the world’s most lavish real estate and above showbiz landmarks instantly recognized throughout the world included the homes of movie stars and celebrities.

The flames reached Calabasas and Santa Monica, home to California’s rich and famous. The stars who lost homes included Cary Elwes, Paris Hilton, and Manny Moore. In the Palisades Fire, Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost their 45-year home.

After rushing back to the city, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass cut off an official trip to Ghana, saying, “This firestorm is the big one,” he said at a press conference.

Production at a number of Hollywood studios was halted, and Universal Studios’ theme park between Pasadena and Pacific Palisades was closed.

Palisades Charter High School, which has been used in numerous Hollywood productions, including the 1976 horror film Carrie and the TV series Teen Wolf, was one of the area’s more than half a dozen schools, according to officials, which were either damaged or destroyed.

Source: Aljazeera