Award-winning actress Meryl Streep was forced to make a daring escape from her Los Angeles home during the recent devastating wildfires that swept through the city in early January.
According to an account shared by her nephew Abe Streep in New York Magazine, the 75-year-old actress received an evacuation order on January 8th, only to discover her driveway was completely blocked by a fallen tree. Faced with this dangerous situation, Streep took matters into her own hands.
The actress borrowed wire cutters from one neighbor and proceeded to cut a car-sized hole through her fence into another neighbor's yard, allowing her to drive to safety through their property.
The wildfires, which began on January 7th, have caused widespread destruction across Los Angeles County's Pacific Palisades and Altadena communities. The disaster has displaced over 80,000 residents and claimed 29 lives so far.
Other Hollywood figures were also impacted by the fires. Actor Martin Short evacuated his Pacific Palisades home with family photo albums, while actor Haley Joel Osment lost precious possessions including 500 records and a cherished piano in the Eaton Fire.
The fires have been particularly severe due to unprecedented wind conditions, with burning embers reportedly traveling miles through the air and igniting new blazes in different neighborhoods. As of January 28th, authorities continue to battle the fires while thousands of structures have been destroyed across the affected areas.