Actor James Woods, 77, became emotional during a CNN interview as he recounted evacuating his Pacific Palisades home, which was destroyed by the devastating wildfires sweeping through Southern California.

The fires have consumed at least 1,000 structures, claimed two lives, and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents.

Woods shared how his wife’s eight-year-old niece tried to comfort them by offering her piggy bank to help rebuild their home. “She came out with her little piggy bank for us to rebuild our house,” Woods said, his voice breaking. “I’m sorry, it’s just one day you’re in the pool, and the next it’s all gone.”

Celebrate Trump's Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

The actor also reflected on the emotional toll of the disaster, saying, “I thought I was stronger than this.”

He had previously posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing the view from his home before it was destroyed. “I took this last night from our beautiful little home in the Palisades. Now all the fire alarms are going off at once remotely. It tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say,” Woods wrote.

Do you think Elon Musk should purchase Facebook?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from RVM News, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

The wildfire has ravaged Pacific Palisades, a coastal enclave home to numerous celebrities, including Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, and Miles Teller. Reality TV stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag also lost their home in the disaster.

Evacuation orders were issued throughout the affluent neighborhood, with officials warning of an “immediate threat to life.”

Three major fires are burning across the greater Los Angeles area, stretching from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has called on off-duty firefighters to assist, as high winds have grounded firefighting aircraft. Fire officials hope to resume aerial firefighting operations as conditions improve.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone reported that the fires have injured numerous people and threatened approximately 28,000 structures.

At least 70,000 residents have been evacuated, though this number continues to rise as evacuation orders expand.

“This morning, we woke up to a dark cloud over all of Los Angeles. But it is darkest for those who are most intimately impacted by these fires. It has been an immensely painful 24 hours,” LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.

The fires have cut power to over 180,000 people, primarily in Los Angeles County, according to PowerOutage.us.

Southern California Edison also shut off power in some areas to prevent additional risks from high winds.

The utility warned that up to 500,000 residents could face additional outages if weather conditions worsen.

The dry winds, including the infamous Santa Ana winds, have fueled the flames, exacerbating an already severe fire season.

Southern California has experienced warmer-than-average temperatures and minimal rainfall, with less than 0.1 inches of rain recorded since May.

Among the properties within the evacuation zone is the home of Kamala Harris, though her spokesperson confirmed that no one was present at the time.

Meanwhile, over 100 schools in the region have been closed due to the fire risk.

The wildfires have devastated entire communities, leaving behind images of luxury homes reduced to ashes and palm trees silhouetted against a glowing red sky.

For many residents like James Woods, the disaster has been a painful reminder of the region’s vulnerability to wildfires and the challenges posed by California’s dry, windy climate.

As firefighters and emergency crews continue to battle the flames, the recovery process for those affected, including Woods and his family, is just beginning.