One year after a series of devastating wildfires tore through Southern California, Hollywood stars have joined their communities in marking a sombre anniversary of loss and resilience. The blazes, which raged between 7th and 31st January 2025, left an indelible scar, claiming 440 lives, forcing over 200,000 evacuations, and destroying more than 18,000 structures.
A Community Concert for Healing
In a poignant display of solidarity, actress and singer Mandy Moore and her husband, Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith, took to the stage at a sold-out benefit concert this week. The couple, who lost the back portion of their $2.56 million Altadena home and garage to the Eaton Fire, performed Moore's 1999 hit Candy at 'A Concert for Altadena'. The fundraising livestream, organised by Goldsmith, benefited the Altadena Builds Back Foundation and was hosted by fellow fire victim John C. Reilly, with a performance from Brad Paisley, who also lost his home.
"I can't believe it's been a year," the 41-year-old Emmy nominee shared on Instagram. "The trauma and grief is still so palpable. Our sense of safety was compromised and it takes time to earn that back." She concluded her message with a note of hope: "The work has only just begun but we're in it together. Altadena forever."
Stars Share Personal Grief and Resilience
Across social media, numerous celebrities who suffered losses reflected on the past year. Veep star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who lost her $15 million Pacific Palisades home, quoted the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song Our House in a heartfelt tribute: "Oh, it was such a very, very, very fine house. Thank you, 535. We miss you and love you."
Jennifer Love Hewitt posted a harrowing image of herself and husband Brian Hallisay in face masks amidst the ruins of their $6 million home. "I learned what I was really made of," she wrote, highlighting the strength of her family. "We watched innocence in our children be taken too early. Honestly we all lost a part of us that day. But here we are. A year later."
Other notable figures commemorating the day included:
- Paris Hilton, whose $8.4 million Malibu home burned down, focused on her philanthropic work, including fostering a dog for a displaced family.
- Ricki Lake, who shared a 'love letter' montage to her destroyed $5 million Malibu dream home, now living in New York City.
- Keleigh Teller, wife of actor Miles Teller, gave a virtual tour of their lost $7.5 million Pacific Palisades home, stating her heart was "with everyone also dealing with grief."
- Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, who reflected on the "immense" devastation but resilient spirit of her Pacific Palisades community.
From Grief to Action: A Political Pivot
The scale of the disaster and the perceived mismanagement of the crisis has spurred at least one celebrity into political action. Reality TV star Spencer Pratt, who lost his $3.8 million Malibu home with wife Heidi Montag, announced his candidacy for Mayor of Los Angeles at a 'They Let Us Burn' rally. "Business as usual is a death sentence for Los Angeles, and I'm done waiting for someone to take real action," the 42-year-old declared.
The list of high-profile victims is extensive, including Mel Gibson, Jeff Bridges, Anthony Hopkins, Matt Damon, and Tyra Banks. The legal process continues, with former Uber driver Jonathan Rinderknecht facing a federal trial beginning 21st April on three arson charges related to the Lachman Fire, which later merged into the Palisades Fire.
As the community looks forward, the messages from those affected blend profound sorrow with a determined commitment to rebuild, underscoring a long road to recovery that has only just begun.
