Several prominent Hollywood celebrities, including Billy Crystal, John Goodman, and Eugene Levy, have lost their homes in the catastrophic wildfires currently ravaging Los Angeles County. The fires have claimed five lives and destroyed over 1,100 buildings so far.
Actor Billy Crystal and his wife Janice lost their Pacific Palisades home of 46 years, where they raised their children and grandchildren since 1979. In a heartfelt statement, Crystal expressed his devastation while remaining grateful for the support of family and friends.
"Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can't be taken away," Crystal said. "We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this."
Eugene Levy, known for "Schitt's Creek" and the honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades, also saw his home incinerated on Wednesday. Other major entertainment figures who lost homes include John Goodman, Paris Hilton, James Woods, and songwriter Diane Warren.
Six wildfires continue to rage across L.A. County, with the Pacific Palisades area particularly hard hit since Tuesday. A new blaze erupted Wednesday night in Runyon Canyon, prompting immediate evacuations in parts of the Hollywood Hills.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended Oscar nomination voting by two days due to the emergency. The Critics Choice Awards, originally scheduled for Sunday in Santa Monica, have been postponed to January 26.
President Biden has signed a federal disaster declaration, enabling affected residents to access temporary housing assistance and property loss loans. The fires have led to widespread evacuations and disrupted film and television production across the city.
Experts attribute the increased fire risk to climate change, which has extended the wildfire season globally by approximately two weeks. The combination of heat, drought, and strong winds has created dangerous conditions across Los Angeles County.