Star Wars legend Mark Hamill was evacuated from his house in Los Angeles, becoming one of more than 30,000 people to flee the ongoing fires in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood.
The actor shared a personal update on his Instagram account on the evening of January 7, saying “Personal Fire Update: 7pm – Evacuated Malibu so last-minute there (were) small fires on the sides of the road as we approached PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)”. He also shared his wife Marilou, dog Trixie, and himself had arrived safely at their daughter Chelsea’s home in Hollywood.
Firefighters are battling a 3,000-acre wildfire that has seen tens of thousands evacuated, with several famous names sharing their experiences. Academy Award winner James Woods posted on X (formerly Twitter) about evacuating his home, which he fears he may have lost to the blaze. “It feels like losing a loved one” he remarked before adding in another post “it tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say”.
I took this last night from our beautiful little home in the Palisades. Now all the fire alarms are going off at once remotely.
It tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say. pic.twitter.com/nH0mLpxz5C
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 8, 2025
Hamill commented on the fire, saying it was the “most horrific since ‘93”. This is a reference to a 1993 fire in Malibu, which destroyed 323 homes.
Marvel actor Chris Pratt posted praise for the firefighters and first responders trying to deal with the fires. “You are true heroes, and we are endlessly grateful for your sacrifice and courage” the Guardians of The Galaxy star wrote. President Joe Biden tweeted about the fires, urging residents to follow local officials’ advice.
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… pic.twitter.com/vS8cRoZrCn
— Chris Pratt (@prattprattpratt) January 8, 2025
Best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars saga, Mark Hamill is also famous for playing The Joker in various Batman animated shows and the Arkham video games.
He spoke recently about his grief at losing Star Wars co-star Carrie Fisher, saying he “still not over” her 2016 passing at the age of 60.