The fire in California: The stars escape the firestorm

The luxury villas of the superstars are on fire in California.

Now the fire brigade is alarming that the water is about to run out.

– We are not ready for this type of huge disaster, says the Los Angeles fire chief to the LA Times.

Never before have California’s super-rich and super-famous people been hit as hard by the annual wildfires as now.

Storm winds of up to 48 meters per second have overwhelmed the Los Angeles fire department.

So far, five people have died and one hundred thousand people have been evacuated according to Reuters. Up to 1.5 million people are without electricity.

Escape the fires

Oscar-nominated actor James Woods filmed as the fire engulfed the houses in his neighborhood.

– It feels like losing a beloved friend, writes the actor on X about his burning house.

The list of celebrities who escaped the fires can be made long.

Steven Spielberg, Heidi Montag, Tom Hanks, Ricki Lake, Ben Affleck, Reese Witherspoon, Eugene Levy, Spencer Pratt, Mandy Moore, Paris Hilton and many more.

Star Wars star Mark Hamill describes the fire as “the worst since 1993” after leaving his house.

Lack of water

At the same time that the fires are raging at their worst, the authorities are alerting that the water is running out.

The fire brigade has already disposed of the water reserve of twelve million liters in the area.

NY Times describe how they see firefighters running from hydrant to hydrant to hook up the hoses, only to find there is no water.

Now the public is being appealed to to ration the use of water.

– The fire department needs the water to fight the fires, says Janisse Quiñones, CEO of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

The authority is also sending 20 water tankers to save the situation.

On Wednesday, there were also reports that looters have sought out the empty luxury homes, despite the deadly fires.

– It pains me to report that we arrested two looters this morning. If you’re thinking of going into one of these areas to steal from our residents, know one thing: You’re going to get caught, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna told Newsweek.

“Sounds like a war zone”

Just eight days into the new year, California has already been hit by 55 wildfires, according to local authorities, but none as severe as the current four raging in Los Angeles.

– It sounded like a war zone. There were two big explosions that made the ground shake, then I knew it was time to leave, says Kevin Williams, who fled headlong into the darkness of the night, according to Reuters.

Disabled retiree Thomas Hutchinson, 66, was told no one could help him escape when he called 911.

As a gift from above, an ambulance drove by and picked him and the dog Rusty up from the flames.

– I would have stayed up there if they hadn’t let me take Rusty, I don’t go anywhere without him, he tells Reuters.

No compensation

According to the bank JP Morgan, the fire has already swallowed values ​​worth up to SEK 110 billion, writes the NY Times.

Another expert tells the newspaper that the “uncontrolled fire” may soon have swallowed over 300 billion kroner.

The nightmare for many of the residents is that they will not receive compensation from the insurance companies for their burned down houses and cars.

The average price of a house in Pacific Palisades is almost SEK 40 million.

According to the NY Times, thousands of homeowners in the area have been dumped by their insurance companies, which have already suffered huge losses from previous fires.

Biden visits the area

Actor James Woods also writes on X that a major insurance company terminated all its clients in his residential area a few months ago.

President Joe Biden visited the disaster area on Wednesday along with Governor Gavin Newsom.

Biden pledged immediate disaster aid from the White House.

Thousands of firefighters and hundreds of fire trucks are also on their way from other states to help the 750 firefighters already battling to contain the blazes.