As flames roared through Los Angeles, claiming homes and lives, actor Ashton Kutcher stepped into action in a Pacific Palisades neighborhood, armed with a simple garden hose. His efforts to water vegetation around a friend’s home reflect the resilience and solidarity that have emerged amid one of the region’s most devastating wildfire seasons.
Captured on camera, Ashton is seen nonchalantly watering the plants around his friend’s property. Insignificant as it may seem, experts say it could make all the difference. According to Cal Fire, well-watered plants are less likely to catch fire, and in a crisis like this, every little bit helps.
The wildfire has consumed more than 1,200 acres from its origination date, 7 January 2025. The percentile has zero percent containment. This fire sweeps with gusty winds through Los Angeles County, causing a burnout of more than 2000 homes and businesses and claiming at least five lives so far. Thousands, as many as thousands of homeowners, needed to be transferred elsewhere. To note, there even occurred fleeing cases amongst celebrities.
Actors Adam Brody and Leighton Meester were among those who lost their $10 million Pacific Palisades home, while socialite Paris Hilton’s Malibu property was left in ashes.
James Woods tweeted footage of the fire closing in on his home before he could evacuate safely. “Unbearable,” he said. Also among those to flee with their families and pets was Mandy Moore, who spoke of her heartbreak at the devastation but thanked friends for taking her family in.
Longtime actor Billy Crystal expressed sadness about the loss of his family home of nearly 50 years: ”It’s not just a house; it’s a lifetime of memories.”
While celebrities suffered personal losses, they joined a greater community rallying support for one another. Kutcher’s impromptu firefighting was only one of many acts of service.
Veterinarian Annie Harvilicz opened her practice to shelter pets whose owners had to flee. “We’re all in this together,” she said, underscoring the need for compassion during a crisis. Planet Fitness branches across LA offered evacuees and first responders free showers, Wi-Fi, and charging stations.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power asked people to conserve water after water tanks in affected areas were drained overnight to fight the fires. “The strain on our resources is unprecedented,” Fire Chief Janisse Quinones said.
The devastation has spurred lessons in preparedness and community solidarity. Celebrities like Chris Pratt and Jamie Lee Curtis used their platforms to spread messages of gratitude for first responders and encourage donations to local relief organizations. Mark Hamill, who evacuated his Malibu home, called this fire season “the harrowing since 1993” and urged residents to remain vigilant.
Steve Guttenberg, of Police Academy fame, was seen assisting fire crews by raking paths on Palisades Drive. The actor himself had been forced to flee his home and expressed the following,
“This is the time for us to remember that we’re part of a community… If you see somebody who needs help, help them.”
