As of the beginning of the new year, Los Angeles (L.A.), California has experienced devastating fires, leaving thousands of residents uneasy about their future. L.A., the hotspot for various well-known influencers and celebrities, now grows full of ashes from demolished memorabilia and favored amenities these residents held as sacred. With over 150,000 Californians told to evacuate and 25 recorded deaths, these firey conditions hold no place for Hollywood stars.
“I think it has impacted celebrities and influencers in a way that they can use some of it to gain some more exposure. But I also think that it has impacted them almost the same as other people since they are evacuating their homes and have chances of it being burned down. And I think the fires will impact the residents in the long run by [allowing them to] have a plan for evacuation if they didn’t already,” magnet freshman Kylie Floyd said.
As the battle continues against the Greater L.A. wildfires, several celebrities have spoken out about the damage to their environment. American media personality, Paris Hilton, shared a video on Instagram of her touring the remains of her beloved Malibu home. Hilton walked through the build-up of ashes from her family’s home in shock at the reality of the fires.
Although Hilton experienced the worst of the Palisades fire, she led and organized an emergency fund with her nonprofit organization, 11:11 Media Impact, to help families who have undergone similar tragedies. This fund also helped support animal shelters in the L.A. area, provided short-term housing for families and delivered essentials for evacuation centers. With only a couple of days into the start of the fund, the icon expressed her gratitude for the donors as they collectively raised over $5000 in fire relief efforts.
Other celebrities such as “This Is Us” star Milo Ventimiglia also lost his Malibu home from the wildfires. The actor — and father-to-be — evacuated his home in time with his wife, Jarah Mariano, before the Palisades fire took over their residence. As their home became captured by the flames, the couple’s security cameras caught it all on film as they watched their belongings disappear.
Ventimiglia fought back tears after remembering the fictional fire in “This Is Us,” in which his character, Jack Pearson, died due to inhalation of smoke from a house fire. He acknowledged the difficulty he faced in recording the intimidating scene on the show and after experiencing a house fire in real life, his gratitude for fire safety has grown. Now, Ventimiglia has called on state and federal agencies to further advocate for other communities who encountered the danger of the L.A. wildfires.
“I just recently heard about the fires. I have heard that the water from the fire hydrants has been drained from firemen trying to put out the fires and that they [the fires] have destroyed over 10,000 homes. I have seen people help others recover by setting up donations like GoFundMe’s and also helping out with kids/pets by donating toys and pet food,” Floyd said.
While Hilton and Ventimiglia serve as only a couple of celebrities impacted by the wildfires, other Hollywood stars showcase their motivation to help their community recover. After the high winds that fueled the flames set off new fires such as the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst, the celebrity world continues to share resources across their social media in hopes of creating an impact in the long-term rehabilitation process needed for wildfire victims.