Palisades Fire: Billy Crystal’s home of 46 years destroyed as celebs flee ritzy neighborhood
Spencer and Heidi Pratt say their home did not survive the Pacific Palisade fire, Mark Hamill says he and his family were ‘fleeing for our lives’
A wildfire raging through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles has forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate as it consumed businesses and homes, including those belonging to celebrities.
The Palisades Fire, driven by strong Santa Ana winds, began in the Santa Monica Mountains late Tuesday morning and quickly engulfed 200 acres within an hour, surging to nearly 3,000 acres by sunset, FOX Weather reported.
Orange County Fire Chief Brian Fennessy joined “Fox News @ Night” on Tuesday to give an update on how firefighters are battling the fast-moving flames, but said there isn’t much that can be done to stop them, so crews are focusing on evacuating and rescuing anyone still in the area.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice Crystal, said they are mourning the loss of their family home.
“Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing,” the couple said in a joint statement. “We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy. Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this.”
“We pray for the safety of the firefighters and first responders,” the statement continued. “The Pacific Palisades is a resilient community of amazing people and we know in time it will rise again. It is our home.”
On Wednesday morning, Sandra Lee revealed her “house is gone.”
“I’m at a hotel. I don’t have a house anymore,” a visibly upset Lee said in the video posted to Instagram. “My house is gone … the only thing I can do is go to work, and I’m going to go to work today, like I go to work every day. I’m going to rebuild everything. I don’t know how. ”
“For all your prayers-Thank you,” she wrote in the caption. “I’m trying to process all this… I am truly grateful we are all safe. My house is gone-I cried all night and thought about every room, nook, and cranny. It was perfection and now it’s just Ash. Please keep our community, the firefighters and the first responders in your prayers. This is not over-not even close.”
Paris Hilton watched her Malibu home burn down to the ground on live television.
“Heartbroken beyond words. Sitting with my family, watching the news, and seeing our home in Malibu burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should ever have to experience,” she wrote on Instagram, alongside a screenshot of a news segment. “This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London.”
“My 11:11 Media Impact Team is already reaching out to nonprofit organizations today to figure out how we can best support the communities impacted by these fires,” she continued. “We’re committed to offering help as soon as possible and making a meaningful difference for those who need it most. To the brave firefighters and first responders risking their lives to protect us—you are true heroes. I am so grateful for your courage, dedication, and the incredible sacrifices you’re making to save lives and fight this unimaginable battle. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
According to TMZ, Hilton owns multiple properties and this particular one was not her primary residence.
Ricki Lake shared photos of her beautiful Malibu property, alerting followers that she had lost her “dream home” in the fires. “It’s all gone,” she wrote, beneath a series of photos of her home before the fire. “I can’t believe I am typing these words.”
Lake says that “a valiant and brave effort” was made by their friend to save the home, but they unfortunately did not succeed. “The place where we planned to grow old together. We never took our heavenly spot on the bluff overlooking our beloved malibu for granted, not even for one second. I shared our sunset views almost daily with all of you.”
“This loss is immeasurable. It’s the spot where we got married 3 years ago,” she said, referencing her third marriage to Ross Burningham. “I grief (sic) along with all of those suffering during this apocalyptic event. Praying for all of my neighbors, my friends, my community, the animals, the firefighters and first responders. More to share soon of how we escaped with Dolly and not much else. For now I grieve,” she concluded.
When reached by Fox News Digital, a representative for Lake said, “No comment.”
“General Hospital” actor Cameron Mathison, who evacuated the area on Tuesday, shared a video on Instagram of his property, completely decimated by the fire.
“We are safe But this is what’s left of our beautiful home,” he wrote. “Our home where our kids were raised and where they wanted to raise their own someday. “Thanks to all who reached out and checked in. Can’t respond to all so wanted to give an update here.”
Reality TV star Spencer Pratt and wife Heidi Montag lost their home in the Palisades Fire, Pratt and Montag confirmed on their Snapchat accounts Tuesday.
In a series of videos, “The Hills” star showed how the fire quickly moved over the hill toward their property.
“Well, this isn’t looking good,” Pratt said while videoing the fire on the mountain behind their home. “First time I’ve seen the flames coming over. Aw, man. Okay, I’m going to go pack up I think.”
He later posted a video from his car stating that he was watching their home burn down on their security cameras. Pratt shared a photo of his kid’s room, saying it had burned in the shape of a heart.
Montag posted a video in a grocery store stating that their house did burn, but they are safe.
TV personality and model Brooke Burke, who evacuated her Malibu home last month during the Franklin Fire, told Fox News Digital that “it’s an absolute s— show,” in Los Angeles. “I have at least a handful of my very close friends that [have] lost their homes. It’s devastating and it’s not over yet. We are sleeping on our couch, kids and animals in different places. I cannot believe what’s happening [in] my community.”
MALIBU WILDFIRE FORCES CELEBRITIES TO FLEE LUXURY HOMES AS DEVASTATIONS SPREADS
“Star Wars” actor Mark Hamill, who also lives in Malibu, told followers that he had evacuated “so last-minute” that fires had formed on both sides of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) – his avenue out of the city. “We were fleeing for our lives,” he wrote in a post to Instagram. Hamill says he, his wife Marilou and dog Trixie evacuated to his daughter Chelsea’s home in Hollywood. Last month, Hamill was “not allowed” to leave his home, forced into lockdown mode when the fires hit his city.
Jamie Lee Curtis wrote that her “community and possibly my home is on fire,” to social media, along with a harrowing image of the wildfires. “My family is safe. Many of my friends will lose their homes. Many other communities as well. There are so many conflicting reports. With all the technology there seems to be very little information. PLEASE POST FACTS! IT WILL HELP THOSE WONDERING!”
She continued, “It is a terrifying situation and I’m grateful to the firefighters and all of the good Samaritans who are helping people get out of the way of the blaze. Neighbors have taken care of neighbors. We ALL take everything for granted because we are all living our lives but when it hits your community, it’s particularly shocking. Life on life’s terms. If ever there was need for the use of the phrase MY HAND IN YOURS, it is right now. Take care of each other. Stay out of the way and let the firefighters do their work. Pray if you believe in it and even if you don’t, pray for those who do.”
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“Trying to shield the kids from the immense sadness and worry I feel,” she wrote on her Instagram story. “Praying for our beautiful city. So gutted for the destruction and loss. Don’t know if our place made it.”
Brad Paisley revealed the first home he and wife, Kimberly Williams Paisley shared, had also burned down.
“We lived in Pacific Palisades for years,” he wrote on Instagram. “It was the first house Kim and I bought together.”
Paisley recalled the various memories made there including prepping the baby’s nursery, birthing classes and walking to the local restaurants.
“That beautiful old house burned last night,” he continued. “As did most of that community. So many good people displaced, devastated and cast out all over LA. I would post a link to donate or raise awareness or something but it all feels so much bigger than that. I don’t know where to begin. I’m sure those of you reading this will find some way to help if you can, but mostly right now I just want to mourn the loss of a town. And acknowledge the beauty and the memories of what it was. It is all so tragic and sad.”
“Beverly Hills, 90210” actress Jennie Garth shared on Wednesday that she was fleeing her home due to the shift in winds. Garth said she was able to salvage pictures, even taking some off the walls.
Chris Pratt posted on X and asked that people join him in praying for “the brave firefighters sacrificing so much to save our houses and our town.”
“Jesus protect the lives of those battling the flames and the lives of those who couldn’t evacuate,” he wrote.
Former Food Network personality Sandra Lee shared scary videos of her beloved Malibu. “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. 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,” she wrote.
“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. When I was waitress at the Malibu Adobe back in 1989, I dreamed of a home like this (FOR ME) and worked my butt off for it. I am sad but I am sending all my love to all the first responders and firefighters who are literally giving it all they’ve got to keep us safe!!!”
Jennifer Love Hewitt took to Instagram to share her heartbreak. “I have no words. Only prayers and holding as much hope as I can for our home and our kids while we watch everything burn. Thank you to every first responder fighting so hard for all of us. Thank you to every friend who reached out and new person I have hugged in tears in the last 24 hours,” she wrote.
Nashville resident Jessie James Decker shared ominous photos from Santa Monica. “This was earlier today during our shoot in Santa Monica right next to the fires,” she captioned one photo featuring a plume of smoke. “My stomach is in knots for the city. Praying so hard for everyone’s safety.”
Eugene Levy, the honorary mayor of Pacific Palisades, told the Los Angeles Times in a phone interview that he was stuck in traffic and “smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon. I couldn’t see any flames, but the smoke was very dark.”
