Hollywood celebrities flee as Los Angeles wildfire catches on, source describes it as a 'Titanic situation'

According to American media, the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office confirmed the death toll from the wildfires ravaging the area has risen to 16. Fierce wildfires continue to rage in California. According to officials, the death toll has mounted to at least ten. US President Joe Biden has approved additional funding to battle the blazes that started on January 7 and were fuelled by powerful winds. A thick blanket of smoke and ashes has covered California’s sky, prompting air and dust warning for 17 million people in the southern part of the state.

The California governor said that over 1,400 firefighters have been deployed to battle the blazes, while Oregon, Washington, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona dispatched firefighting teams. The forest fires triggered the evacuation of around 130,000 people, including Hollywood celebrities like Mark Hamill, Mandy Moore and James Woods. In Los Angeles, the Palisades Fire damaged over 5,300 structures and charred over 77 square kilometres of area. The Sunset Fire raged in the Hollywood hills near iconic landmarks. The Eaton Fire in Altadena, north of Pasadena burned over 5,000 structures. Los Angeles Fire Department has warned against another wildfire near West Hills. The Kenneth Fire charred over 2.6 kilometres of land within hours. Meanwhile, the Hurst Fire, which started on January 7, prompted evacuations in Sylmar.

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Since the fires first began on Tuesday just north of downtown Los Angeles, they have burned more than 12,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles.

Amid the chaos the city has been caught in, Hollywood celebrities have been fleeing and leaving their homes. A source told Mail Online that the situation is very “Titanic-like”

They said, “We have the music, the cocktails, the lovely food, the fine linens, the piano player. But this awful tragedy is unfolding and people have lost everything and no one knows what they are going home to. It’s very sad.”

The source added, “There are dogs everywhere in the hotel. Staff are running around with pooper scoopers but no one minds. It’s lovely to have them around with their gentle energy. There’s non-stop barking and chaos but it’s fun.”

Actor Preity Zinta , who is based out of Los Angeles, says she is safe but heartbroken by the devastation caused by the raging wildfires in the US city.

Zinta, who shares twins Jai and Gia with husband-financial analyst Gene Goodenough, in a note on X said she never thought she would live to see a day where fires would ravage neighbourhoods in Los Angeles.

“Friends & families either evacuated or put on high alert, ash descending from smoggy skies like snow & fear & uncertainty about what will happen if the wind does not calm down with toddlers and grandparents with us. I’m heartbroken at the devastation around us & grateful to god that we are safe as of now (sic)” she wrote.