Reporting by Jem Aswad, Matt Donnelly, Angelique Jackson, Elsa Keslassy, Gene Maddaus, Marc Malkin, Pat Saperstein, Michael Schneider, Tatiana Siegel, Jazz Tangcay, Chris Willman, and Okay.J. Yossman.

Before the clock struck mid-afternoon on January 7, the Pacific Palisades region of Los Angeles existed as a serene salt-air haven, nestled within one of the largest cities in the United States. It was described by a local resident as “a sort of Mayberry,” offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and strategically located between Santa Monica to the east and Malibu to the west. This idyllic neighborhood was a refuge for many, providing a unique blend of coastal beauty and tight-knit community spirit.

However, by late afternoon that same day, the Palisades transformed into a catastrophic hellscape. This neighborhood, home to countless members of the entertainment industry, found itself engulfed by a wildfire that rapidly escalated into a ferocious inferno, fueled by winds reaching up to 80 miles per hour. The sheer force of these howling gusts propelled burning embers over vast distances, ensuring that devastation would touch numerous homes and properties indiscriminately. As chaos unfolded, residents were forced to evacuate, leaving behind homes, memories, and a sense of security.

A few hours later, approximately 35 miles east in Altadena, a similarly close-knit community nestled in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest, faced a perilous firestorm driven by the same hazardous wind conditions. This disaster left the residential area north of Pasadena resembling a war zone, with homes and businesses reduced to ashes, leaving behind a haunting reminder of nature’s destructive power.

The root causes and contributing factors behind both blazes will likely be scrutinized and debated for years to come. Almost immediately, accusations of negligence and mismanagement directed at state and local officials emerged, coinciding with the black-gray smoke and ash that blanketed both communities. The scrutiny reflects a deeper concern about fire safety and preparedness in areas prone to such devastating wildfires.

In the aftermath, however, hundreds of thousands of displaced fire victims are grappling with their immediate losses. This crisis is compounded by a wave of emotions, including numbness, shock, panic, gratitude, and even anger. Those who were not directly impacted by the flames are also coming to terms with the profound magnitude of what has been lost—homes, cherished possessions, and a sense of normalcy that once defined their lives.

Greg Wells, a music producer who lost both his home and recording studio in Pacific Palisades, expressed the enormity of the situation by stating, “That’s an area larger than Manhattan that just got leveled.” His words highlight the sheer scale of destruction and the long-term effects it will have on the community and its residents, akin to the aftermath of a small nuclear bomb going off.

Kathryn Frazier, owner of the public relations firm Biz3, raised her two sons in what she called her “sacred oasis” in Altadena. This was the home she had envisioned retiring in, a place filled with memories and love that now lies in ashes.

“It’s just unbelievable,” Frazier lamented. “Our whole neighborhood is gone — every home, store, school — even the fire department itself.” Her expression of loss resonates deeply with many others who have witnessed their communities vanish in an instant, leaving behind an emotional void and a desperate need for support and recovery.

Matt Gutman, a seasoned reporter for ABC News with a background in covering wars and natural disasters, found himself deeply affected while documenting the devastation in the Palisades. Having family ties to the area, he watched his aunt’s home engulfed in flames, reflecting on the memories associated with that place, stating, “This is where we do Thanksgivings.” The next day, he returned to find a landscape that was eerily unrecognizable, stripped of its former charm and familiarity.

“It’s this sea of bare chimneys without homes wrapped around them, and this desert of ash and grey in what had been a place of great color and liveliness,” Gutman described. “It’s very jarring.” His words paint a vivid picture of the psychological impact that such devastation has on both survivors and observers, evoking the stark contrast between the vibrant community that once thrived and the desolation left behind.

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Stunning Images Capture the Fire’s Destruction in Malibu and Pacific Palisades

Essential Fire Relief Resources for Entertainment Industry Workers

The catastrophic fires in Los Angeles are projected to become the most costly natural disaster in U.S. history, with repercussions that will ripple through every sector and industry in Southern California and beyond. The entertainment and media industries are not immune; in fact, the high concentration of industry insiders—ranging from CEOs and A-list stars to IATSE members and character actors—who called Palisades and Altadena their home underscores the significant emotional and financial toll that this disaster will impose on Hollywood and the creative community for years to come.

“In a matter of hours, I had clients from out of town who were being evacuated from hotels along Sunset Boulevard, and everything began breaking down and pivoting,” explained Andrew Colon, the chief operating officer of Smuggler, a commercial production house. “We just ramped down for safety. Some projects are going to be postponed indefinitely, while others that need to be produced on a tight timeline will have to relocate to regions less prone to these fire hazards.” His insights reveal the far-reaching consequences that these fires have on production schedules, impacting not just individuals but entire projects and teams.

The recent surge in wildfire activity across California and other western states has been exacerbated by climate change, creating a perfect storm for disaster. Prolonged drought conditions in Los Angeles have turned the area into a tinderbox, made worse by the unusually wet weather in 2021 and 2022, which caused local vegetation to flourish explosively. This lush growth has now dried out, creating a highly flammable environment, just waiting for the next spark in 2023 and 2024 as drought conditions return to the historically arid region.

The fire triggered abrupt production shutdowns and the temporary closure of major film studios. Universal Studios, Warner Bros., and Disney are all situated near canyons and the Hollywood Hills, making them particularly vulnerable. The fire also abruptly closed the Universal Studios theme park. For the freelance workforce of Hollywood, the aftermath of these fires represents yet another blow, following a period of significant income loss during the pandemic and months of halted work during the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes. Last year was already marked by a notable downturn in overall production activity, especially in television, as studios sought to control spending.

“It’s been incredibly difficult because every time I feel like I’m making some progress and things are moving forward, another hurdle appears,” said Evan Shafran, a background actor living in the Burbank area who has closely monitored fire conditions. He expressed his frustration, noting that he didn’t earn enough in 2024 to qualify for SAG-AFTRA health insurance this year. He remains hopeful that the new year will bring more opportunities for work, highlighting the unique challenges faced by those in the industry.

“We need jobs now more than ever after this fire has occurred,” Shafran stated. “People don’t realize how much the lack of work here is affecting everyone and the cascading effects it has. Everyone is struggling.” His perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of the entertainment industry and how disasters can create a widespread financial strain on its workforce.

Another immediate consequence of the fires has been the disruption of the usual sequence of award shows, premieres, and celebratory events scheduled for January and February, culminating in the Academy Awards set for March 2. The announcement date for Oscar nominations has already been postponed by nearly a week (to January 23) due to the upheaval caused by the fires.

While the loss of glamorous award shows and red carpet events may seem trivial in the face of tragedy, the harsh reality is that each of these events represents a day or more of lost wages for Hollywood’s gig workers. The job categories affected range from security personnel and caterers to florists and servers, as well as numerous technical and artisan specialists whose expertise is essential for producing major events. Organizers of the Grammy Awards, slated for February 2 at downtown L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena, are currently scrambling to determine how to adjust music’s biggest night in light of the devastation.

For those who have lost their homes and the majority of their belongings, a profound sense of shock prevails, one that will require time to overcome, even as they acknowledge their survival. The speed with which everything unfolded has left many in disbelief.

“I went out that morning for an optometry appointment, and I never went back,” music producer Wells recounted. Like many others, Wells admitted to experiencing a level of denial even as residents scrambled to pack essentials and fled to their vehicles.

“We kind of arrogantly thought, ‘There’s no rush’—as if to say, ‘This is going to be okay,’” Wells reflected on his mindset on January 7, just before chaos erupted. “Then I got a call from one of my older kids who grew up in the Palisades, and he said, ‘You guys have to get out right now,’ showing me pictures of the smoke and just how close the flames were. My wife grabbed our passports, and that was it. But we thought, ‘We’ll return. We’ll be back when the dust settles.’ … There’s just that bizarre feeling of not having closure, of not saying goodbye to something that was so integral to our lives.” His experience encapsulates the emotional turmoil experienced by many residents forced to leave everything behind in an instant.

In Altadena, talent manager Alexander Shekarchian and his fiancée, Dr. Moogega Cooper, a NASA engineer at the nearby Jet Propulsion Laboratory, shared a similar experience. Their initial response to the fire was one of disbelief.

“I filled with the mentality that it’s never going to get to us. It’s going to stop,” Cooper stated, expressing a common sentiment among residents. Shekarchian added, “We had time to pack some clothes, but unfortunately, we didn’t manage to save most of [Cooper’s] keepsakes, which is the more heartbreaking part of it.” Their story reflects the collective denial many felt, believing that they would be spared from the approaching disaster.

Mia Ammer, a veteran communications executive and VP at Sunshine Sachs Morgan and Lylis, also faced a devastating loss when the home she purchased in the Palisades in 2015 was consumed by flames. Upon returning to survey the charred remnants of their residence, she and her family could only recover a small ceramic bear crafted by her 17-year-old daughter, Annie, during elementary school, and the doorknob from Annie’s old room.

“We’ve lived through so many of these fire warnings, and you don’t truly know how seriously to take it,” Ammer reflected. “My house has never really been at risk. All my neighbors were thinking the same thing—we’d just return. That’s why so many people left with just the clothes on their backs,” she added, emphasizing the common misconception that residents were safe from wildfires.