Meryl Streep found herself among the many residents forced to evacuate when wildfires ravaged Los Angeles earlier this month. The 75-year-old actress had to get creative in order to escape danger, as her nephew, Abe Streep, explained in an essay for New York Magazine.
On January 8, Meryl received an evacuation order. However, when she attempted to leave, she found her only exit blocked by a large tree that had fallen across her driveway. Refusing to stay behind, Meryl called a neighbor for assistance. Abe shared that she borrowed wire cutters and proceeded to cut a car-sized hole in the fence separating her property from her neighbors. She then drove through their yard to safety.
While Meryl managed to avoid the worst, others weren’t as fortunate. Meryl’s co-star from Only Murders in the Building, Martin Short, was one of the lucky ones. His home was spared from the destruction, and the 74-year-old comedian expressed his determination to stay put, telling Abe, “I will definitely stay in my home.”
However, tragedy struck for one of Short’s sons, who lost his home to the flames. Similarly, actor Haley Joel Osment, known for The Sixth Sense, also lost his residence in the Eaton Fire. He shared the heartbreaking news that the fire destroyed not only his home but also 500 vinyl records and a piano his parents had given him on his 18th birthday.
Other notable figures whose homes were destroyed include Paris Hilton, Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, Leighton Meester, Adam Brody, and Miles Teller. This Is Us stars Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia were also affected by the fires.
The wildfires were devastating, with the Palisades Fire scorching over 23,000 acres in Pacific Palisades and the Eaton Fire burning over 14,000 acres in Altadena, California. These fires prompted the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people, many of whom, like Meryl, found themselves seeking alternative routes to safety.
Even Ben Affleck, who had recently purchased a $20.5 million home in Pacific Palisades, was forced to evacuate and seek refuge at his ex-wife Jennifer Garner’s house.
