Los Angeles high school featured in iconic films burns down in wildfires
As 30,000 people, including celebrities, were ordered to evacuate their LA homes to escape the rapidly growing wind-driven California wildfire, a school has burnt down along with its huge Hollywood history.
Palisades Charter High School – a popular filming location for many Hollywood movies including Carrie and Freaky Friday – has been engulfed by the flames.
NBC Los Angeles reported on Tuesday night that the fire spread through several buildings at the PCHS campus. Earlier in the day, the school announced its closure due to the fire.
In 1976 horror film Carrie the school was called Bates High School, while it also appeared in 1984 film Savage Streets, 2012 movie Project X , the 2003 remake of Freaky Friday, 2001 romcom Crazy/Beautiful, and TV series Teen Wolf.
It also has many notable alumni including will.i.am, J.J. Abrams, and Jennifer Jason Lee.
Residents living in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood, home to numerous celebrities, were told ‘don’t wait, evacuate’ by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services as the blaze burned more than 1,200 acres within the first five hours.
Horror film Carrie was filmed on the grounds of the school (Picture: MGM)
The school was a favourite filming location for many Hollywood movies (Picture: Fox)
‘Los Angeles is currently experiencing an extreme fire weather condition with red flag alert,’ the Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said during a press briefing.
‘The fire is being fueled by a combination of strong winds and surrounding topography, which is making it extremely challenging for our personnel that are assigned to this incident.’
Freaky Friday with Lindsay Lohan was also shot in the iconic high school (Picture: Buena Vista Pictures)
She confirmed there had been no injuries, but multiple structures had been damaged in the blaze which saw more than 250 firefighters – including 46 engines and five helicopters – on the scene.
A US premiere of the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man has been cancelled due to the ‘dangerous conditions affecting Los Angeles’, according to US media outlets.
CBS News National Correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti called the scenes ‘apocalyptic’ while sharing a video of fires blazing on lawns around the area.
He said: ‘This is not typical wildfire season. Last year around this time we were covering an atmospheric river. Apocalyptic. And sadly the Palisades Fire has only just begun.’
Reality TV stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag are among those who have lost their homes.
Sources told TMZ that The Hills stars Spencer and Heidi’s home was completely destroyed after catching fire on Tuesday.
Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag’s home has been destroyed, it is reported (Picture: APEX / MEGA)
Accoriding to the Mail, he watched on as the fire approached his family home (Picture: APEX / MEGA)
Spencer was pictured looking on at the blaze mournfully from a distance. According to the Mail, Spencer was watching the fire approach his family home when the photos were taken.
Thankfully the couple and their two sons are safe, as they were able to evacuate earlier in the day before the flames got to their home.
Spencer took to social media to document firefighters in a plane dropping water in a nearby mountain, as smoke billowed into the sky.
Among the stars evacuating was US actor James Woods, who shared security camera footage on X of flames engulfing a nearby home and at the bottom of his balcony.
Spencer posted a video of a plane dropping water on a nearby mountain (Picture: APEX / MEGA)
‘We were blessed to have LA fire and police depts doing their jobs so well. We are safe and out…Can not speak more highly of the LA fire and LAPD,’ the Golden Globe and two-time Emmy-winning actor wrote.
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill has also said he was evacuated from Malibu amid the wildfires in Los Angeles.
In an Instagram post, he said: ‘Personal Fire Update: 7pm – Evacuated Malibu so last-minute there small fires on both sides of the road as we approached PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).’
From there he went to his daughter Chelsea’s house in Hollywood with his wife Marilou and their dog Trixie.
He said: ‘8:15pm – Marilou, Trixie & I arrive at Chelsea’s house in Hollywood. Most horrific fire since ’93. Stay safe.’
Mandy Moore has shared a social media update that she and her kids have been evacuated.
‘Evacuated and safe with kids, dog and cats. Praying and grateful for the first responders,’ she wrote.
Ben Affleck looked shocked as he watched the blaze from his car while driving on Sunset Boulevard.
Police Academy actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in the Pacific Palisades, urged people who abandoned their cars to leave their keys behind so they could be moved to make way for fire trucks.
‘This is not a parking lot,’ he told KTLA. ‘I have friends up there and they can’t evacuate… I’m walking up there as far as I can moving cars.’
Tom Hanks’ son Chet Hanks, 34, has shared a devastated message on social media, writing: ‘The neighborhood I grew up in is burning to the ground rn. Pray for Palisades.’
Chris Pratt thanked the firefighters tackling the blaze in a social media post as he wrote.
He gazed on at the fire while driving on Sunset Boulevard (Picture: BACKGRID)
Ben Affleck took a moment to watch the blaze from his car in shock (Picture: BACKGRID)
‘Please send prayers and strength tonight to everyone in Los Angeles affected by these devastating fires,; he wrote on X, adding: ‘Thank you to the brave firefighters and first responders who are working tirelessly to protect lives, homes, and wildlife as they battle fast-moving wildfire fueled by fierce winds.
‘You are true heroes, and we are endlessly grateful for your sacrifice and courage. Let’s all come together to support one another during this tough time.’
Khloe Kardashian took to Instagram also thanking the first responders, saying: ‘Thank you for your unwavering dedication and courage in the face of these devastating fires in CA. Your selflessness, resilience, and tireless efforts to protect lives and communities are deeply appreciated.’
She went on: ‘You are true heroes, and we are incredibly grateful for all you do. Please know that your sacrifice does not go unnoticed, and we stand with you in gratitude and support. Praying strongly that these winds die down and no more homes are lost Lord. Praying for everyone’s safety. This is so sad and scary!’
EastEnders star Patsy Palmer said her heart was ‘broken’ and brain is ‘fried’ after looking at the ‘devastating scenes’ inher hometown of LA.
‘I just returned home to my home intact after the fires a couple of weeks ago and left on Saturday back to work in the UK and now this.
‘My family are safe but lots of my friends have lost their homes again which is extremely traumatic. Being here so far away is reallly really hard.
‘I’m praying and crying as I write this. I’m helpless here but praying hard. Please reach out if you need anything. Richard and kids are there safe and evacuated. This is huge . Really wasn’t expecting this. Heartbroken. Stay safe.’
Meanwhile Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland wrote in an Instagram Story: ‘Lord. Please cover us all during this time! This is heartbreaking! And please send us a miracle! In Jesus’ mighty name… Amen.’
The rapidly growing fire led to event cancellations in Hollywood, including the premiere of Ryan Gosling-produced Wolf Man, starring Golden Globe nominee Christopher Abbott and the premiere of Unstoppable, starring Jennifer Lopez.
‘Tonight’s premiere of Wolf Man is cancelled due to sensitivities around the worsening weather situation in LA and related evacuations,’ a Universal spokesperson told the PA news agency.
The star-studded premiere of Unstoppable, a biopic of US wrestler Anthony Robles who won a national championship with one leg, was also cancelled following the evacuation orders.
Unstoppable is the directorial debut from William Goldenberg and sees Jharrel Jerome play Robles and Lopez star as his mother Judy.
The SAG Awards have also cancelled a live nominations announcement due to the fires.
Nominations for the SAG Awards, a reliable indicator for the Oscars, were due to be announced on Wednesday morning at an event hosted by actors Joey King and Cooper Koch.
Instead, the nominations will be unveiled via press release and on the awards website at 7.30am on Wednesday, local time.
A statement from the awards organisers said: ‘We urge everyone to stay safe and thank you for your continued support.’
The awards will take place on February 23, hosted by actress Kristen Bell.
During the press briefing, Governor Gavin Newsom thanked US President Joe Biden for offering help with a state of emergency declared.
‘By no stretch of the imagination are we out of the woods,’ Governor Newsom said, suggesting the highest winds were forecast overnight.
Firefighters are tackling the blaze, which ripped through 1,200 acres within the first five hours (Picture: DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Plumes of thick black smoke billowed over miles of traffic jams as residents attempted to flee, with authorities bringing in bulldozers to unblock roads from abandoned vehicles, according to US reports.
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Fire Department said in a statement: ‘People in the area of Palisades need to evacuate now due to a rapidly moving wildfire.
‘Pack all people and pets into your vehicle and leave the area immediately.
‘If you are not in the mandatory evacuation zone, stay off the roads to allow first responders and evacuees to move quickly.’
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said southern California is facing a ‘critical’ weather event as ‘strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity’ were causing ‘extreme wildfire risks”.
Forecasters from the National Weather Service for Los Angeles warned of ‘life-threatening, destructive’ gusts that could last for days, bringing extreme fire risk to areas that have not seen substantial rain for many months.
It comes less than a month after residents in Malibu were evacuated from a wind-driven blaze dubbed the Franklin Fire, which saw more than 4,000 acres burn and stars including Dick Van Dyke, Cher and Jane Seymour forced to leave their homes.
