L.A. Fires: Jimmy Kimmel Addresses Crisis in Monologue

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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 mid-afternoon on January 7, the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles was a serene paradise, described by a resident as “a sort of Mayberry.” This charming locale, nestled between Santa Monica to the east and Malibu to the west, offered breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, making it an idyllic escape within the second-largest city in the United States. The air was fresh, and the community thrived with a close-knit atmosphere, where residents enjoyed the tranquility of coastal living amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life.

However, by late afternoon that same day, the Palisades morphed into an appalling hellscape. The once peaceful neighborhood, home to hundreds of entertainment industry professionals, was consumed by an uncontrollable wildfire, fueled by fierce winds reaching up to 80 miles per hour. These howling gusts propelled embers over vast distances, leading to widespread destruction as tiny molten projectiles landed indiscriminately on rooftops, patios, backyards, front yards, treehouses, and even on vehicles left abandoned amid the chaotic evacuation orders that swept across the area. The scene was one of pure pandemonium, leaving residents scrambling for safety.

Selection / Getty Photographs

Only a few hours later, around 35 miles to the east in Altadena, another closely-knit community nestled in the foothills of the Angeles National Forest faced a similar disaster. The same treacherous wind conditions ignited a firestorm, transforming the residential area north of Pasadena into a war zone. The devastation mirrored that of the Palisades, with smoke and ash creating a somber atmosphere that enveloped the community, further exacerbating the challenges faced by its residents.

The causes and aggravating factors behind both wildfires will undoubtedly be scrutinized, debated, and investigated for years to come. Accusations of negligence and mismanagement directed at state and local authorities arose swiftly, just as the thick black-gray smoke and ash settled over the affected areas. These discussions will likely focus on the systemic issues that contributed to the disaster, highlighting the need for better preparedness and response mechanisms in the face of such catastrophic events.

In the interim, however, hundreds of thousands of displaced fire victims grapple with the immediate aftermath of their profound loss. This crisis is compounded by a tumultuous wave of emotions ranging from shock and numbness to panic, gratitude, and even anger. Those who were not directly impacted by the flames are also struggling to comprehend the sheer scale of what has been lost in these once-thriving communities. The psychological toll of such a disaster is immense and will take time to heal.

“This is an area larger than Manhattan that has just been leveled,” remarked music producer Greg Wells, who lost both his home and recording studio in Pacific Palisades. “It feels as if a small nuclear bomb has gone off,” he added, expressing the sentiment shared by many who witnessed the devastation unfold in real-time. The stark contrast between the vibrant, lively neighborhood and the charred remnants left behind underscores the deep emotional scars that will linger long after the fires are extinguished.

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What remains of Rosenthal Wine Bar and Patio on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu
Michael Buckner

Kathryn Frazier, the owner of a public relations agency known as Biz3, expressed her grief over the loss of her “sacred oasis” in Altadena, where she raised her two sons as a single mother. This was not just a house for her but a place she had envisioned retiring in, emphasizing the deep personal connection individuals have with their homes and communities. The emotional weight of losing such a significant space is profound and can leave scars that last a lifetime.

“It’s just unimaginable,” Frazier lamented. “Our entire neighborhood is gone—every home, shop, school—even the fire department itself.” The sentiment of loss is echoed across many affected areas, where the very fabric of community has been torn apart. The implications of such loss extend beyond physical structures, touching the emotional and psychological well-being of every resident.

Veteran ABC News reporter Matt Gutman, who has covered wars and various natural disasters, found himself deeply shaken by the experience of reporting on the devastation in the Palisades, an area he was familiar with due to family ties. Watching his aunt’s house go up in flames was a surreal and heart-wrenching experience. “This is where we do Thanksgivings,” he reflected, underlining the personal impact of witnessing the destruction of cherished family spaces. Upon returning the next day, the landscape of the fire-ravaged neighborhood felt eerily unfamiliar, a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the permanence of loss.

“It’s a sea of bare chimneys without houses wrapped around them, and this desert of ash and grey where there used to be a place of vibrant color and liveliness,” Gutman described. “It’s incredibly jarring.” The stark imagery paints a vivid picture of the aftermath, highlighting the profound transformation of the environment and the emotional turmoil faced by those who once called it home. The contrast between what was and what remains serves as a haunting reminder of the devastating power of nature and the vulnerability of human existence.

EXPLORE RELATED COVERAGE ON THE IMPACT OF L.A. FIRES

Local TV Reporters Share Their Experiences Covering Fires in Their Own Communities

Catastrophic Fires Leave L.A. Residents Desperate in a Tight Housing Market

Hollywood Premieres and Events Canceled Due to Devastating L.A. Fires

Examining the Role of Climate Change in L.A.’s Catastrophic Wildfires

Striking Images Reflecting the Damage of Fires in Malibu and Pacific Palisades

Fire Relief Resources for Entertainment Industry Workers Affected by the Fires

The recent fires in Los Angeles are poised to become the most costly natural disaster in U.S. history, impacting every sector and industry throughout Southern California and beyond. The entertainment and media sectors are not exempt from this devastation. The high concentration of industry insiders, from high-profile CEOs and A-list celebrities to IATSE members and character actors who called the Palisades and Altadena home, indicates that the repercussions will be severe and long-lasting for Hollywood and the creative community.

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“In an instant, I had clients from out of town being evacuated from hotels along Sunset Boulevard, and everything started breaking down and pivoting,” reported Andrew Colon, Chief Operating Officer of Smuggler, a commercial production house. “We just ramped down for safety. Some are going to postpone indefinitely, while others have projects that need to be produced on a tighter timeline and can’t afford long delays, so they will have to move to areas less susceptible to this fire hazard.” The immediate impact on production schedules and project timelines highlights the far-reaching consequences of this environmental disaster on the entertainment industry.

Wildfire activity in California and other western states has been exacerbated by climate change in recent decades. Prolonged drought conditions in Los Angeles turned the region into a tinderbox, with flammable conditions worsened by the unusually wet weather experienced in 2021 and 2022. This abundance of rainfall led to a flourishing of local vegetation, which then dried out and became highly susceptible to ignition at the first spark of dry weather in 2023 and 2024. The cyclical nature of these environmental factors underscores the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the risk of such catastrophic events in the future.

The wildfires prompted unexpected production shutdowns and the temporary closure of film studios. Major studios like Universal, Warner Bros., and Disney are located adjacent to canyons and the Hollywood Hills, making them particularly vulnerable to fire threats. Additionally, the Universal Studios theme park was also briefly closed. For the many freelance workers in Hollywood, the destruction caused by the fires represents yet another setback following the significant financial losses they faced during the pandemic and the months of inactivity during the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes. The previous year had already seen a notable downturn in overall production activity, particularly in television, as studios sought to cut costs and tighten budgets.

“It’s been incredibly tough because every time I feel like I’m gaining some momentum and things are moving forward, there’s another hurdle,” shared background actor Evan Shafran, who resides in the Burbank area and kept a close watch on fire developments. “I didn’t earn enough in 2024 to qualify for SAG-AFTRA health insurance this year. I had hoped that the new year would bring more opportunities.” The challenges faced by those in the entertainment industry are compounded by a lack of available work, straining both their financial stability and mental health.

“We need jobs now more than ever since this fire has occurred,” Shafran emphasized. “People don’t realize how much the lack of work here is affecting everyone and the trickle-down effects. Everyone is struggling in this challenging environment.” The urgency of the situation is palpable, as countless individuals seek to rebuild their lives and careers in the aftermath of such devastating events, highlighting the interconnectedness of the community.

A couple surveys the rubble of a family member’s property in Altadena destroyed by the Eaton Fire
Getty Photographs

Another immediate consequence for the entertainment industry has been the disruption of the usual parade of award shows, premieres, and celebratory events scheduled for January and February, culminating in the Academy Awards set for March 2. Already, the announcement of the Oscar nominations has been postponed nearly a week (to January 23) due to the upheaval. The industry traditions that typically bring joy and recognition have been overshadowed by tragedy, emphasizing the delicate balance of celebration and loss in the face of disaster.

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While the absence of red carpet moments may appear trivial in the wake of such devastation, the reality is that each of these events represents a day or more of lost income for Hollywood’s gig economy workers. This includes a range of job categories from security guards to caterers, florists, servers, and various technical and artisan specialists whose contributions are vital to executing large-scale events. Organizers of the Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 2 at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena, are currently scrambling to figure out how to reconfigure music’s biggest night in light of the ongoing devastation.

For those who have lost their homes and most of their belongings, the reality of their situation is slowly sinking in, even as they acknowledge their survival. Everything unfolded so rapidly, leaving many in disbelief. The emotional toll of this experience is profound, as individuals process their losses and attempt to navigate the aftermath.

“I went out that morning for an optometry appointment and I never returned,” reflected music producer Wells. Like many others, Wells admitted to feeling a sense of denial as residents hurriedly packed essentials and fled to their vehicles. The instinct to downplay the urgency of the situation can lead to devastating consequences.

“We kind of just arrogantly thought, ‘There’s no rush’—like, ‘This is going to be okay,’” Wells recounted, reminiscing about his mindset on January 7 prior to the chaos that ensued. “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 some pictures of the smoke and just how close the flames were. My wife managed to grab our passports, and that was it. But we thought, ‘We’ll return. We’ll be back when the dust settles.’ There’s just that strange feeling of not having closure, of not saying goodbye to something that was a significant part of our lives.”

In Altadena, talent manager Alexander Shekarchian and his fiancée, Dr. Moogega Cooper, a NASA engineer at the nearby Jet Propulsion Laboratory, experienced a similar sense of disbelief. Their initial reaction mirrored many others in the community, thinking that the flames would never reach them.

“I filled with the mentality that it’s never going to get to us. It’s going to stop,” Cooper recalled. Shekarchian added, “We had time to pack some clothes, but unfortunately, we didn’t manage to grab most of [Cooper’s] keepsakes, and that’s the more heartbreaking part of it.” The notion of safety can create a false sense of security, leading individuals to underestimate the threat posed by wildfires, resulting in devastating losses.

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