Los Angeles Wind Storm Creates Pacific Palisades Fires: Which Stars Are Affected?

Los Angeles saw a frightening natural weather event — and its star-studded community has been heavily impacted.

An extreme wind storm, caused by Santa Ana gusts, sparked fast-burning brush fires at around 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7, with drivers along Sunset Boulevard and Palisades Drive abandoning their cars to seek safety, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Local areas were evacuated, including the celebrity haven of Pacific Palisades, located about 20 miles west of Downtown L.A., where A-list stars are renowned for their sprawling luxury homes.

Stars including Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Reese Witherspoon, Adam Sandler, Michael Keaton, Miles Teller, Michael Mann, Ann Sarnoff, Alan Bergman, Kathleen Kennedy and Carol Lombardini all reside in the exclusive enclave.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the National Weather Service labeled the wind storm a “particularly dangerous situation … Red Flag Warning event.” This type of alert affected Malibu, the San Gabriel Valley, the San Fernando Valley, Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, the Santa Monica Mountains, the San Gabriel Mountains, Eastern Ventura Valley and coastal areas adjacent to the Sepulveda pass, per the outlet.

The Associated Press reported that more than 13,000 structures were put “under threat.” The origin of the fires has not been confirmed.

Below, see which celebrities have been affected by the wildfires:

Sandra Lee
The celebrity chef, 58, shared via Instagram Tuesday that the fires were nearing her house.

“My home in Malibu has got me through some of the darkest moments in my life. I have loved creating it, embellishing it, building it, caring for it, and protecting it,” she wrote. “I’ve cherished every moment I have had with it. As the fire draws closer, I pray for it — I pray for everyone in Los Angeles right now. What an incredibly terrifying moment for my community.”

Lee continued, “As the fire reaches our doorstep, please stay in contact with each other; Community in times like these is our lifeline. We are all safe but the fire is inching closer to my slice of heaven in Malibu.”

Days later, Lee shared that her house was still standing. “I was able to go to Malibu late yesterday. It is with a heavy heart for my local community, yet the most shocked and grateful heart I share my home, Avalon — still stands,” she wrote via Instagram. “I could not believe my eyes to be one of 10 in my neighbor of homes still there. I do not know how. I can only assume it was the quick action of our firefighters.”

Lee said she is in “total disbelief” and feels “guilty for being a part of a bubble of these homes spared.

I have such sadness for the people who have lost their lives, and I grieve for the families who have lost their loved ones. There are no words to express my emotion as these fires still burn out of control,” she wrote. “My heart remains with everyone in Los Angeles, my numerous neighbors, and my two most wonderful girlfriends who’s [sic] homes are gone.”

Lee ended her message by extending her thanks to the first responders. “I hope you join me today to say a prayer for LA and our communities,” she wrote. “Thank you for keeping all of us in your thoughts. For me, I will thank God every day.”

Kate Beckinsale
Beckinsale, 51, mourned the loss of her neighborhood via Instagram.

Hearing the winds last night I prayed. I knew it would be bad — we had to evacuate many times during our life there — but the shock at the whole of the Palisades being destroyed is unthinkably horrific,” she wrote. “My daughter [Lily] and I lived there for most of her childhood and most of her childhood is gone. Her primary school, every shop or restaurant we used to go to with my parents and Michael [Sheen]’s parents — and devastatingly, most of her friends’ homes. My heart is broken.”

The General Hospital star, 55, revealed his home was lost to the fires, posting via Instagram, “We are safe. But this is what’s left of our beautiful home. Our home where our kids were raised and where they wanted to raise their families someday.”