Dancing with the Stars professional Derek Hough has shared the devastating damage caused by the Los Angeles wildfires.
The dancer, 39, posted a photo of fires ripping through the hills of Hollywood. In an update to his Instagram followers, Derek shared a clip of fire in the distance as it could be seen for miles across the night sky. He wrote: "Runyon Canyon on fire. This is scary." A few hours later, Derek headed out to a fire station as he shared another message.
He said: "A massive shout out to all the firefighters out here." In his caption, Derek added: "Shout out to all the firefights risking so much." Derek then revealed he was taking measures with his family as he showed he was packing up a suitcase with their cat sat inside.
"We are currently packing up to evacuate the house and Otis is ready to go. We have got hard drives of important things. Alright, lets do this." Derek worked as a professional dancer on the American version of Strictly Come Dancing from 2007 to 2016 and won six times.
Thousands of firefighters are battling to control the original Palisades fire, which has already consumed nearly 16,000 acres, along with seven other fires across southern California that threaten to cause further destruction and loss of life as strong winds spread embers. At least five people have died.
The city has declared a state of emergency, forcing at least 70,000 people to evacuate their homes as the metropolitan area is engulfed in a thick cloud of smoke and ash. A new fire has now broken out in the Hollywood Hills, posing a threat to numerous tourist attractions including the Walk of Fame.
Celebrities including Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal have been affected by the fires. Socialite Paris expressed her devastation at watching her Malibu home "burn to the ground on live TV" as she watched the news with her family – including her son Phoenix and daughter London, whom she shares with husband Carter Reum.
"This home was where we built so many precious memories. It’s where Phoenix took his first steps and where we dreamed of building a lifetime of memories with London. While the loss is overwhelming, I’m holding onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe," Paris said.
Actor Billy Crystal and his wife Janice are grappling with the loss of their home of the past 46 years. In a heartfelt statement shared with PA news agency, they said: "Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing. Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this."
Reality TV stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag also revealed they had lost their home in the inferno. The couple, who tied the knot for the second time in 2009, documented the progression of the fire on their Snapchat stories, with Pratt stating: "I’m watching our house burn down on the security cameras."
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