A significant number of properties in the upscale Pacific Palisades area have been destroyed by the wildfire.
Devastating wildfires continued to rage through Los Angeles’ affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Wednesday, overwhelming firefighting efforts in what’s been called the city’s most destructive fire to date.
Images and videos reveal entire city blocks reduced to ashes by the intense flames. ABC7 reporter Josh Haskell, a lifelong resident, stated that “it feels like 50 to 75% of Pacific Palisades is gone.”
Pacific Palisades, situated between Santa Monica and Malibu, boasts some of the nation’s most expensive real estate, including mansions owned by Hollywood stars such as Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, and Michael Keaton, according to Business Insider.
“The Palisades Village Starbucks is unrecognizable after being ravaged by the fire. ‘The Business Block’ in Pacific Palisades appears to be completely burned. It was 100 years old, established in 1924…”.
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— Pichu Ruas (@PichuRuas)
The California Fire Department reported that over 1,000 structures have been destroyed. At least five fatalities have been reported, and 70,000 residents have been displaced.
INTERNATIONAL | UNITED STATES . Sunset Blvd in Pacific Palisades has virtually disappeared. The fire continues to spread and has so far been 0% contained.
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— Q’hubo TV Oficial (@Qhubotvoficial)
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced online criticism for her weekend trip to Africa, especially given prior warnings of an impending windstorm. Politicians and developers also condemned her for a $17.6 million cut to the fire department’s budget last year. Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk called Bass “utterly incompetent” in a Wednesday post on X.