Pacific Palisades fire in Los Angeles prompts mass evacuation orders
A wildfire erupted in Los Angeles, spurring evacuation orders for thousands in Pacific Palisades.
A raging fire in Los Angeles is disrupting Hollywood movie premieres, and some celebrities may be forced to evacuate.
Fueled by a severe wind storm pummeling Southern California, a bush fire in LA spread over 1,200 acres and forced the evacuation of thousands of people on Tuesday.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood due to life-threatening conditions between Piedra Morada Drive and the Pacific Coast Highway. The Los Angeles Fire Department also stated that multiple homes were under immediate threat.
Tinseltown is also feeling the brunt of the fiery conditions. On Tuesday, the premiere of Jennifer Lopez’s latest film, “Unstoppable,” was canceled due to “safety concerns around heightened wind activity and fire outbreaks.”
“As much as we were looking forward to celebrating this wonderful and inspiring film with you, safety is our first priority,” a spokesperson “for Unstoppable,” Emily Teichner, said in a statement to USA TODAY.
“We encourage everyone to watch ‘Unstoppable’ on Prime Video, which will be available globally on Jan. 16.”
The Palisades Fire was reported around 11 a.m. local time and quickly spread through the afternoon. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, but experts are crediting brutal Santa Ana winds, low humidity and critically dry fuels for its strength, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
‘Wolf Man’ premiere canceled amid Pacific Palisades fire
The premiere of the supernatural horror “Wolf Man” was also derailed because of the Pacific Palisades fire, according to an official statement from Universal Pictures.
“Tonight’s premiere of ‘Wolf Man’ is cancelled due to sensitivities around the worsening weather situation in LA and related evacuations,” Universal spokesperson Elpin Keshishzadeh said.
The Leigh Whannell-directed werewolf horror, a remake of 1941’s “The Wolf Man,” stars Julia Garner, Christopher Abbott and Sam Jaeger.
James Woods doesn’t know if his ‘home is still standing’ after evacuation
Oscar-nominated actor James Woods revealed on social media Tuesday that he was forced to evacuate amid the worsening fire, sharing a photo of a burning hillside.
Woods isn’t the only celebrity who resides in the Pacific Palisades area, an affluent residential neighborhood located about 20 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles.
A number of stars, including Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Eugene Levy, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Adam Sandler and Michael Keaton, reportedly call the region home, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“To all the wonderful people who’ve reached out to us, thank you for being so concerned,” Woods wrote on X. “Just letting you know that we were able to evacuate successfully. I do not know at this moment if our home is still standing, but sadly, houses on our little street are not.”
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY