James Woods tearfully remembers the Pacific Palisades fire evacuation

On January 9, 2025By Littum

James Woods survived the worst of the Pacific Palisades fire, but he’s still reeling from the natural disaster ravaging Los Angeles.

The Oscar-nominated actor, who has previously opened up on social media about fleeing his home amid the fire, detailed the harrowing evacuation during a interview with CNN’s Pamela Brown on Wednesday.

Woods said he and his family were in “the exact epicenter of the fire when it started” and were forced to evacuate with “the clothes on their backs.”

Fueled by a powerful windstorm that hit Los Angeles County, a brush fire spread across 1,200 acres and forced the evacuation of thousands of homes on Tuesday. ONE mandatory evacuation order was issued in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood due to life-threatening conditions between Piedra Morada Drive and Pacific Coast Highway.

“There was so much chaos. It was like an inferno,” Woods told Brown. “Every house was on fire around us.”

He added: “One day you’re swimming in the pool and the next day it’s all gone.”

Woods became emotional at various times during the interview as he recalled the events of the fire and the destruction of his home, which he had recently moved into after three years of renovations. The “Salvador” star also helped orchestrate the rescue of his 94-year-old neighbor, who has dementia.

“I thought I’d be stronger than this,” a tearful Woods said, to which Brown replied, “Strength isn’t measured by whether you hold back crying. … Strength is what you do now to help your neighbors and shine a light on the great, fantastic work of all these firefighters and emergency personnel.”

Woods isn’t the only celebrity living in the Pacific Palisades area, an affluent residential neighborhood about 20 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles.

A number of stars including Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, Eugene Levy, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Reese Witherspoon, Adam Sandler and Michael Keaton reportedly call the region home, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Pacific Palisades fire has also brought more disruption to Hollywood this week, including the postponement of Sunday’s Critics’ Choice Awards and the cancellation of movie premieres.

On Tuesday, Woods shared in an X post that he was able to “evacuate successfully,” but lamented the fire’s destruction, writing, “I don’t know at this time if our home is still standing, but unfortunately, houses on our little street not.”

Starring: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY