Dennis Quaid, Sarah Michelle Gellar among stars battling for luxury hotel rooms amid wildfire evacuations

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As Southern California battles a series of devastating wildfires, some of Hollywood’s elite, including Dennis Quaid, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and her husband Freddie Prinze Jr, have been forced to evacuate their multimillion-dollar homes.

With flames inching closer to their estates, these A-listers are reportedly battling for rooms at the iconic Hotel Bel-Air, where nightly rates for its most luxurious accommodations soar to $18,000, Radar Online reported.

Hollywood stars scramble for shelter at $18K/night hotel amid LA wildfires

Joining the ranks of displaced stars are rocker Tommy Lee and legendary actor Michael Keaton, who were also spotted at the historic venue. Many of the celebrities have extended their stays due to the fires’ unpredictable path and the ongoing danger to their properties. 

The Los Angeles wildfires, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, have ravaged neighborhoods across the region. The largest active blaze, the Pacific Palisades Fire, has scorched over 20,000 acres, while the Eaton Fire has destroyed more than 7,000 structures. 

Firefighters have made progress on containment, with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reporting:

- Palisades Fire: 11% contained

- Eaton Fire: 15% contained

- Kenneth Fire: 90% contained

- Hurst Fire: 76% contained

Despite these efforts, thousands remain displaced, and communities are grappling with the devastating aftermath.

Rep Judy Chu tours Eaton Fire aftermath as Mexico joins California wildfire response

Representative Judy Chu, whose congressional district encompasses areas heavily impacted by the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County, led a delegation of California Members of Congress on a tour of devastated neighborhoods and streets.

In a press release following the visit, Chu expressed gratitude to her colleagues, stating, “I was so grateful to my colleagues in Congress from California who were able to drop everything and demonstrate to Los Angeles County and the entire nation that we as Californians have each other’s backs.”

Meanwhile, California’s wildfire response received an international boost on Saturday, January 11, as Governor Gavin Newsom announced that firefighters from Mexico had arrived to assist in battling the blazes in Southern California.

In a post on X, Newsom shared a video of a plane bearing a Mexican flag landing at LAX, accompanied by the message, “Firefighters from Mexico just arrived at LAX. They’ll be joining 14,000+ personnel already battling the #PalisadesFire. California is immensely grateful to our neighbors’ support in the fight against the wildfires in Los Angeles.”

CAL FIRE also acknowledged the expanded efforts, posting on X, “California has expanded its response efforts, welcoming assistance from Texas, Canada, and Mexico to join neighboring states already providing critical support in battling the Southern California wildfires. These reinforcements are crucial not only for containment efforts but also to provide much-needed relief to the brave firefighters on the frontlines.”

The Eaton and Palisades Fires have ravaged vast areas of Los Angeles County, with thousands of acres scorched, hundreds of structures destroyed, and tens of thousands evacuated. With additional support from neighboring states and countries, officials are hopeful for progress in containment efforts.

Dennis Quaid gets emotional reflecting on friends' losses amid LA fires

Actor Dennis Quaid revealed he was forcefully evacuated from his Brentwood home during the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. Despite the challenges, the 70-year-old actor expressed gratitude for his situation, acknowledging his fortune compared to friends who lost their homes.

“We’ve had it lucky. I have so many friends who’ve lost,” Quaid shared in an interview with NBC. “My agent, he lost both of his houses. Another good friend in the Palisades who had just moved into a house and was renting the other lost both of them,” he added.

Quaid became emotional while discussing the efforts to combat the fires, saying, “We’re fighting as hard as we can to save our city. Gosh, I never thought I’d say that.”

After being evacuated, the 'Postcards from the Edge' star returned to his home to take essential precautions.

“Just in case, I had to shut off the gas and all those little things you don’t think of, and just thought maybe I could be there and put a hose on the roof if the embers start coming over,” Quaid explained, according to the Daily Mail.