Fire Forces Famous Faces to Flee: Pacific Palisades in Flames

On Tuesday, a fast-moving fire swept through Pacific Palisades, California, forcing celebrities and locals to evacuate their homes. The blaze, which started around 10:30 a. m. , quickly grew from a small brush fire to over 770 acres due to strong winds. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) issued mandatory evacuation orders for the affluent coastal neighborhood, which is home to many famous faces. Celebrities like Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, and Reese Witherspoon have called or currently call Pacific Palisades home. As the fire raged, actors James Woods and Steve Guttenberg took to social media to share their experiences. Woods evacuated within hours of the fire starting and posted videos of the area in flames. Guttenberg, on the other hand, was seen helping with evacuation efforts by clearing vehicles from Palisades Drive to allow emergency workers access. Eugene Levy, the honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades, also evacuated and described the smoke as "black and intense. " The LAFD reported that over 250 firefighters were working to contain the fire, which affected a large area including part of the Pacific Coast Highway. The fire comes during a period of high wind warnings in Southern California, with gusts expected to reach up to 100 mph. While the winds are forecasted to die down by Wednesday evening, the risk of the fire spreading remains high.