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Actor James Woods Claims Miracle Preserved His Home from Los Angeles Wildfire


Woods conveyed his appreciation for the flood of supportive messages he received while also expressing sympathy for those who were less fortunate.

On January 10, actor James Woods shared that his home in Pacific Palisades had miraculously escaped the catastrophic wildfires ravaging Los Angeles, which devastated much of his neighborhood and left parts of the city resembling a war zone.

Many residents have returned to their still-smoldering communities, even as the threat of new fires persists and the nation’s second-largest city remains on high alert.

Having evacuated earlier in the week with tens of thousands of others, Woods provided updates on the destruction in his neighborhood after assessing the aftermath. In one update, he mentioned fearing that his home had been consumed by the flames, but—thanks to what he called a “miracle”—he discovered that his house was still intact.

“A miracle has happened,” Woods wrote in a post on the social media platform X. “We managed to reach our property, and our home, which we were told was gone forever, is still standing. In this hellish landscape, ‘standing’ is a relative term, but the smoke and other damage pale in comparison to the utter devastation surrounding us.”

Other celebrities, such as Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal, reported that their homes had been lost or damaged. Woods articulated his gratitude for the wave of supportive messages while also empathizing with those who faced greater losses.

“So many beautiful messages from all of you,” he shared in a post. “I’m incredibly happy and grateful, but frankly, the entire area resembles the dark side of the moon. It’s profoundly gut-wrenching and upsetting; it’s almost difficult to celebrate the joyful news that our home survived.”
Following five days of wildfires in urban areas, only rubble remains where warehouses, buildings, and other structures once stood across large sections of greater Los Angeles. Since the outbreak of the fires in a densely populated 25-mile stretch north of downtown Los Angeles, more than 12,300 structures have been destroyed, encompassing homes, apartment complexes, businesses, outbuildings, and vehicles. Streets are lined with badly burned cars, their windows shattered.
Flames from the Palisades Fire burns a building at Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Jan. 8, 2025. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

Flames from the Palisades Fire burns a building at Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Jan. 8, 2025. Apu Gomes/Getty Images

Cars are left charred at a dealership in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2025. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)

Cars are left charred at a dealership in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Photo

At least 11 people are believed to have lost their lives due to the fires, according to the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner, pending final confirmation. Officials expect that the death toll could increase as cadaver dogs search through flattened neighborhoods and teams assess the destruction. The cause of the largest fires remains unidentified.

Amid ongoing investigations, accusations of leadership failures and political blame are surfacing. On Friday, Governor Gavin Newsom instructed state officials to probe why a reservoir capable of holding 117 million gallons was out of service and why certain hydrants had run dry, labeling the situation as “deeply troubling.”

Simultaneously, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley criticized city officials for underfunding firefighting resources, emphasizing that inadequate water supply is a critical concern.

Homeowners return to their fire-ravaged neighborhood in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2025. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo)

Homeowners return to their fire-ravaged neighborhood in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Photo

A neighborhood destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles on Jan. 10, 2025. (John Locher/AP Photo)

A neighborhood destroyed by the Palisades Fire is seen in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles on Jan. 10, 2025. John Locher/AP Photo

The estimated economic loss and damage from the fires is projected to range from $135 billion to $150 billion, according to the latest AccuWeather update on January 11. This preliminary damage estimate includes both insured and uninsured losses, covering property damages, wage impacts, infrastructure destruction, disruptions in the supply chain, and other related consequences.
State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has implemented an emergency moratorium to prevent insurance companies from canceling or refusing to renew policies for those whose homes and buildings have been lost due to the fires. This moratorium, mandated by state law, will remain in effect for one year.



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