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As locals offered glimpses of the hellish conditions from Los Angeles’ wildfires impacting tens of thousands, James Woods shared his own experience with glimmers of hope and humanity.

The combined strength of three fires coupled with high winds rapidly escalated to a state of emergency Tuesday as hundreds of first responders converged on the area. Among those impacted was the popular conservative actor who not only posted scenes from his own home but shared anecdotes about those in the community doing their part to aid amid the tragedy.

After initially sharing videos of smoke, Woods told his followers that he was “Leaving” as he captured the sight of a neighbor’s home caught in the blaze before revealing the conditions on his own property which had flames whipping up alongside his deck.

“We were blessed to have LA fire and police depts doing their jobs so well. We are safe and out. There are several elementary schools in our neighborhood and there was an enormous community effort to evacuate the children safely. Can not speak more highly of the LA fire and LAPD,” explained the entertainer.

Later, as he explained homes on his street were no longer standing and it was unclear what state his own residence would be in, Woods detailed how his friend Jeff Gross, the owner of a local pharmacy, was opening Wednesday morning “to help victims of the fires who evacuated without their medications.”

“This family-owned business has been devoted to the community always, and they are showing once again what good people they are,” added the actor who’d shared on a more personal note how his wife’s “eight-year-old niece offered her Yeti piggy bank to help us. Some things will make a grown man cry.”

Believed to have started with a fire in the foothills near Eaton Canyon, two additional wildfires, Palisades and Hurst, ignited prompting a mandatory evacuation order for at least 30,000 residents as flames whipped across a combined 4,500 acres, according to the Angeles National Forest, as the Santa Ana winds and ongoing dry conditions contributed to the rapid spread.

Further, the Los Angeles Times detailed that firefighters in the Pacific Palisades were contending with the added issue of fire hydrants being down as the Department of Water and Power dispatched water crews to aid in ensuring “the availability of water supplies” in the area served by water tanks.

In one case, two men and a dog were seen in a video that quickly went viral as a fire suppression system struggled to knock down flames that encircled a home. All three were said to have made it out safely from the residence, though criticism was expressed for filming instead of fleeing.

Elsewhere, bulldozers were being utilized to clear cars off the roads as actor Steve Guttenberg encouraged fleeing locals to leave their keys behind as he aided first responders in getting them out of the way.

According to the L.A. County Fire Department, the Palisades Fire alone reached nearly 3,000 acres with none of it contained, explaining, “Extreme fire behavior, short & long-range spotting, continues to challenge firefighting efforts for the Palisades Fire. Winds gusts up to 60 MPH are expected to continue through Thursday.”

Among those who had homes in the area, actor Chris Pratt posted, “Please send prayers and strength tonight to everyone in Los Angeles affected by these devastating fires. Los Angeles is in a state of emergency and over 30,000 have been ordered to evacuate.”

“Thank you to the brave firefighters and first responders who are working tirelessly to protect lives, homes, and wildlife as they battle fast-moving wildfire fueled by fierce winds. You are true heroes, and we are endlessly grateful for your sacrifice and courage,” he added. “Let’s all come together to support one another during this tough time.”

While “Sodom and Gomorrah” set to trending on social media due to opinions on the lifestyles of many in Hollywood affected by the fires, President Joe Biden stated late Tuesday, “I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire. Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support areas that are impacted and help reimburse the state of California for immediate firefighting costs. My Administration will do everything it can to support the response.”

“I urge the residents of the Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles to stay vigilant and listen to local officials,” the president continued as California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) updated that hundreds of additional firefighters were joining the more than 1,400 that were already on the ground.

Kevin Haggerty
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