‘Star Wars’ Mark Hamill Recounts Being Caught in Terrifying Wildfires

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Mark Hamill, famous for his roles in Star Wars and The Fall of the House of Usher, is among many celebrities forced to leave their homes due to the dangerous wildfires currently ravaging Los Angeles. On January 7, 2025, he shared an update on Instagram assuring fans that he was safe, but only barely so.

As a devoted cinephile, I found myself hurriedly fleeing Malibu just in time, with small flames erupting on either side of the Pacific Coast Highway. By 8:15 that fateful night, my family and I had safely sought refuge at my daughter Chelsea’s residence in Hollywood. These recent fires have been the most terrifying since ’93, I told my fans. My heartfelt plea to everyone is to prioritize safety during these trying times.

He’s talking about the series of fires that occurred in L.A. around late October and early November 1993, which were particularly devastating. These wildfires were the most destructive at the time, with over 350 homes being destroyed by the flames and two unfortunate lives lost. Similar to the recent blazes, a mix of favorable weather conditions, dangerously strong winds, and dry vegetation fueled the fires to spread rapidly.

Hamill is right; these recent fires are among the worst since 1993, with tragic results: two lives lost and over a thousand structures burned down. The impact of climate change is significant, causing California’s wildfire season to extend beyond the typical June to October period. This is why we’re witnessing these fires now instead. So far, approximately 70,000 residents have been forced to evacuate, and that number is expected to grow as the inferno continues.

Hollywood Productions Shutting Down Amid The Dangerous Fires

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve been hit hard by these wildfires here in L.A. They’ve forced some of my favorite productions to take a temporary break. NBCUniversal had no choice but to close their Universal Studios lot, halting the progress on shows like “Hacks”, “Suits: LA”, “Happy’s Place”, “Loot”, and “Ted”. Even hit series like “Grey’s Anatomy”, “NCIS”, and Prime Video’s “Fallout” have decided to pause filming for now. The tapings of shows such as “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, “The Price is Right”, and “After Midnight” have been postponed due to these unforeseen circumstances.

Additionally, the Screen Actor’s Guild nominations, premieres of Jennifer Lopez’s “Unstoppable”, Leigh Whannell’s “Wolf Man”, HBO’s new medical drama “The Pitt”, and Pamela Anderson’s “The Last Showgirl” were also called off. Notably, Chris Pratt, James Woods, Cary Elwes, Mira Sorvino, and Jamie Lee Curtis are among the celebrities who have been directly impacted by the fires. Curtis shared her sentiments on Instagram.

My neighborhood and potentially my house are ablaze. Fortunately, my family is unharmed. Unfortunately, several of my friends may lose their homes. Many other communities are affected too… This is a horrifying scenario, but I’m thankful for the firefighters and all the kind-hearted individuals who are assisting people to safety… Please stay clear to allow the firefighters to work effectively. Whether you believe in prayer or not, let us hope for those who do.

Firefighters are being pushed to their limits due to the numerous fires, as many of them are working non-stop to extinguish the flames and care for the injured. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that over 1,400 firefighting personnel have already been mobilized, and he plans to call upon the National Guard for assistance too.

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2025-01-09 00:31