Hollywood actors flee, Oscar noms postponed: How wildfires are ravaging Los Angeles

Wildfires sweeping through the Los Angeles region have brought the US entertainment industry to a standstill.

At least five people died, and over 1,000 structures have been reduced to ruins.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of more than 100,000 residents.

The disaster has impacted several Hollywood events since it coincided with the start of the annual awards season.

Several film premieres have been cancelled, and the announcement of awards and nominations delayed due to the fire and strong winds.

ALSO READ | Pacific Palisades wildfire: A Los Angeles disaster that reflects a global crisis

Celebrities forced to evacuate, homes ravaged in wildfires

Jamie Lee Curtis, Mandy Moore, Maria Shriver, and other celebrities were among tens of thousands compelled to leave their homes as wildfires raged uncontrollably around Los Angeles.

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The largest blaze burned nearly 12,000 acres (4,856 hectares) in Pacific Palisades, a scenic area between Santa Monica and Malibu that houses various film, television, and music stars.

Oscar winner Curtis shared that she was safe but expressed concern, saying, “My community and possibly my home is on fire.”

She added, “Pray if you believe in it and even if you don’t, pray for those who do.”

Several fires, including the Palisades blaze, were burning across the city. Film permits were revoked in Pasadena and other areas east of Los Angeles following fire officials’ requests.

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The area is also home to stars like Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, and Steven Spielberg, many of whom are anxiously awaiting updates on the future of their properties.

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Paris Hilton shared a video showing her house destroyed in flames, writing, “This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London."

Heartbroken beyond words 💔 Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience.😢 This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps… pic.twitter.com/aeJAgJrymA

— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) January 9, 2025

“The devastation is unimaginable. To know so many are waking up today without the place they called home is truly heartbreaking."

The Palisades fire also destroyed the historic ranch house once owned by Hollywood icon Will Rogers. Several structures were lost at Will Rogers State Historic Park and Topanga State Park, including the historic Topanga Ranch Motel, built by William Randolph Hearst in 1929.

Oscar nominations delayed, Screen Actors Guild Awards live event cancelled

The announcement of nominees for the 97th Academy Awards (the Oscars), initially set for January 17, has been postponed to January 19.

Voting for nominations has also been extended by two days, now closing on January 14. The Oscars ceremony will still take place on March 2.

In an email to members, CEO Bill Kramer expressed sympathy for those affected by the Southern California wildfires. He wrote “We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California. So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.”

Other scheduling adjustments include postponing the International Feature Shortlist Screening, originally scheduled for Wednesday night, to later in the week.

Several pre-Oscar events, such as the BAFTA Tea Party, the AFI Awards luncheon, and the Critics Choice Awards, have also been postponed or cancelled.

The Critics Choice Awards, planned for Sunday, have been rescheduled to February 26. The event is set to be held at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, just miles away from Pacific Palisades.

The 30th annual Critics Choice Awards ceremony has been postponed from January 12th to January 26th due to the catastrophic fires ravaging Southern California.

The rescheduled event will remain at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, and will broadcast live on E! and… pic.twitter.com/wCNQrszS54

— Critics Choice Awards (@CriticsChoice) January 8, 2025

Film studios have cancelled two movie premieres due to the fires and strong winds.

Meanwhile, the J Paul Getty Trust announced that the Getty Villa and Getty Center museums will remain closed for the next few days.

Universal Studios has halted filming for several series, including “Hacks”, “Ted Lasso”, and “Suits LA”.

Notably, all schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District were also closed on Thursday.

Are Universal Studios and Disneyland closed?

Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk in California were closed on Wednesday due to “extreme winds and fire conditions,” according to a statement from Universal Studios on X.

Located in Universal City, the park is north of Los Angeles, between Pasadena and the Pacific Palisades. Universal Studios plans to reopen on Thursday, pending further assessment.

Meanwhile, Disneyland, located in Anaheim about 50 miles south of Pacific Palisades, has not announced closures. Disneyland officials advised guests to check the Disneyland app for real-time updates, as operational changes may occur depending on weather conditions.

Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita also closed due to high winds. A statement on X read, “All tickets purchased for today will be honoured on any regular operating day through December 31, 2025.”

Economic loss due to the wildfires exceeds $50 billion

The ongoing California wildfires have caused preliminary economic losses estimated between $52 billion and $57 billion, according to AccuWeather. This figure could rise if fires spread to densely populated areas.

“Should a large number of additional structures be burned in the coming days, it may become the worst wildfire in modern California history based on the number of structures burned and economic loss,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter was quoted as saying by Reuters.

JP Morgan estimates that insured losses originating from the wildfire could be around $10 billion.

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Several people left without power

More than 310,000 customers in Southern California were without power on Wednesday, with over half of the outages reported in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us.

How bad air quality is impacting millions

Thick smoke and ash from the wildfires have led to air and dust advisories for 17 million people across Southern California, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

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The worst air quality was recorded near the fires, with East Los Angeles reporting an air quality index of 173, which is considered unhealthy. By comparison, good air quality measures 50 or less.

Dr Puneet Gupta, assistant medical director for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, warned that wildfire smoke can trigger heart attacks and worsen asthma. Further, burning homes can release harmful substances like cyanide and carbon dioxide.

With inputs from agencies