Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that the church in Pacific Palisades where she got sober had gone up in flames, according to an Instagram post on Wednesday.
The church is “the building that I got sober in 25 years ago,” the Oscar-winning actor said on social media, adding the church had a “beautiful Sunday school” and was “a gorgeous house of worship.”
“I think of all of the souls who came there for comfort and solace and all the baptisms and funerals and weddings and the thousands of people who reclaimed their lives through Sobriety,” she added.
“Also, the women’s club in the Palisades where I met many sober people. Both are gone. Tough times. We will persevere. God bless you all,” she concluded.
A home in the upscale Pacific Palisades that reportedly belongs to actors Adam Brody and Leighton Meester was destroyed by a wildfire that ripped through the Los Angeles neighborhood.
Airbnb.org is offering free temporary housing for residents displaced by wildfires in Los Angeles County in partnership with 211 LA, a community hub and nonprofit organization which connects residents with essential services in the area.
Impacted residents can request assistance for temporary housing through an intake form with 211 LA, which identifies those in greatest need.
Stays are “completely free for guests and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of Airbnb hosts,” according to a statement released Wednesday on their website.
The program specifically focuses on residents who have lost their homes or been forced to evacuated in the Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Sylmar areas, the statement added.
Airbnb.org is Airbnb’s charitable arm which runs independently from the home-sharing platform itself, according to their website.
As smoke crept closer to Darrin Hurwitz’s Pacific Palisades home in California on Tuesday morning, he started packing up the most meaningful items in his house: a few family heirlooms, a couple of pieces of art, and his two daughters’ favorite stuffed animals.
There wasn’t time to grab much else. The nearby Palisades Fire — one of several wind-whipped blazes raging across Southern California — suddenly surged, threatening Hurwitz’s most valued possession: his family’s lives.
“Within minutes, 10 to 20 minutes, there wasn’t one fire. There were multiple fires, as embers were sort of crisscrossing the area,” Hurwitz told MSNBC’s Chris Jansing on Wednesday. “The ferocity of the fire led us to think that we needed to get out of our house, and get out of our house very quickly.”
Ethan Swope / AP
Megan Mantia, left, and her boyfriend Thomas return to the site of Mantia’s Altadena home after the Eaton Fire swept through the area yesterday. Many residents returned to find their homes reduced to smoldering piles of ash, as raging wildfires continue to wreak havoc across Los Angeles.
The Sunswept Fire is now under control, the unified Los Angeles command responding to the fires said early today, adding that the Woodley Fire in the Sepulveda Basin has also been contained.
It also said the fire department was making progress on the Sunset Fire.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff has issued an unsafe water alert for the city of Pasadena, saying the water system was potentially impacted with debris.
“Bottled water should be used for all drinking (including baby formula and juice), brushing teeth, washing dishes, making ice, and food preparation until further notice. This also applies to pets and domestic animals,” the alert read.
A boil water notice was in force previously. The new alert strictly warned against self-treatment of water, including by boiling or filter, saying it won’t “make the water safe.”
“The expected timeframe for resolution is unknown and dependent on evolving fire, wind, and related conditions,” the alert added.
A shortwave infrared satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows burning buildings caused by the Eaton fire in Altadena, northeast Los Angeles yesterday.
Maxar Technologies / DigitalGlobe / Getty Images
Across the city the the west, another short wave infrared blended image reveals areas of the the Palisades fire.
Maxar Technologies / DigitalGlobe / Getty Images
More than 362,000 homes and businesses are without power in California amid the wildfires as of early this morning, according to online outage tracker PowerOutage.us.
Almost 200,000 homes are out in Los Angeles County alone, according to the outage tracking site.
The Palisades Fire has burned through more than 17,200 acres, while the Eaton Fire has grown to 10,600 acres, both with zero containment, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in an early morning update.
Meanwhile, the Hurst fire has spread across at least 855 acres, but is now at least 10% contained, while the Lidia Fire has burned through nearly 350 acres, with 40% containment.
Fueled by powerful winds and dry conditions, a series of ferocious wildfires erupted Tuesday and roared across the Los Angeles area, destroying hundreds of homes and leaving at least five people dead.
A Los Angeles county fire official said there were an untold number of significant injuries linked to two of the fires, and a city official in Los Angeles described Tuesday night as “one of the most devastating and terrifying” that she’d seen in her corner of the city.
“This is looking worse and worse the more information we get,” said climate scientist Daniel Swain.
Emergency services are being pushed to their limit as they work to contain the ongoing wildfires ravaging Los Angeles County, fueled by dry conditions and powerful winds. Over 80,000 people have been asked to evacuate the area.
Los Angeles County Fire has requested mutual aid from Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Firefighters from neighboring states, including Nevada, Oregon and Washington are also joining efforts to combat the blaze.
The following organizations are seeking donations to assist in relief efforts for the Southern California wildfires:
American Red Cross: The American Red Cross is providing shelter, food, emotional support, and health services to those affected by the Southern California wildfires. They are also arranging care for family pets, large animals, and livestock. Make a donation by visiting their website.
CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation: The CAL FIRE Benevolent Foundation supports firefighters, their families, and burn victims impacted by wildfires, providing direct assistance to those on the front lines. Donations can be made through their website.
California Community Foundation (CCF): The California Community Foundation (CCF) uses data from CalFire and the CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index to ensure grants target underserved communities most affected by the wildfires, focusing on long-term recovery efforts. To help CCF respond to current and future disasters, donate through their website.
California Fire Foundation: The California Fire Foundation is collaborating with local fire agencies and community organizations to provide direct financial support to residents impacted by wildfires. Contribute to their Disaster Relief fund by visiting their website.
Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is deploying emergency supplies and offering financial assistance to evacuees and first responders impacted by the California wildfires. Make a donation directly through their website to assist with their wildfire relief efforts.
World Central Kitchen: World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is delivering meals to first responders and families affected by the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Donate through their website to support their efforts.
KNBC’s Julia Deng reports that multiple homes are on fire on Sunswept Drive in the Studio City area of Los Angeles, with the flames threatening a hillside behind the homes.
