James Woods, 77, has lost his Pacific Palisades home in the Southern California fires that have devastated parts of Los Angeles. Speaking with CNN’s Pamela Brown, the actor became emotional, saying, “One day you’re swimming in the pool and the next day it’s all gone.” He recounted his evacuation and helping his 94-year-old neighbor with dementia escape the chaos, describing the scene as “an inferno” with “every house on fire around us.”

On social media, Woods posted photos and videos of the fire, calling neighbors and friends “priceless” and expressing gratitude for the blessings amidst the tragedy. 

Woods also addressed concerns about a conspiracy theory involving insurance companies, revealing in a tweet that securing insurance support could be challenging. He shared that “one of the major insurances companies canceled all the policies in our neighborhood about four months ago.”

$10 Billion loss looms from LA wildfires

With over 13,000 homes at risk, preliminary estimates from J.P. Morgan suggest that the Los Angeles wildfires could result in losses nearing $10 billion. This staggering financial toll threatens to destabilise an insurance market already under significant strain.

The Palisades wildfire is ravaging one of Los Angeles’ most affluent neighborhoods, where the average home price is nearly $3.5 million, while also exposing its vulnerability to wildfires. Nestled in the hills with breathtaking Pacific Ocean views, these homes are highly susceptible to the destructive Santa Ana winds. When one house ignites, it often spreads the fire to neighboring properties, exacerbating the devastation.

Test of state’s emergency backup system

According to The New York Times, the Insurance companies in California are already stretched too thin and are reluctant to do business in Los Angles, so such massive loss at this time might be the state’s first real test of its emergency backup system.

The fires have disrupted life across Southern California, causing widespread evacuations, halting TV productions, and postponing events like the Critics Choice Awards. 

In the CNN interview, Woods also shared a touching moment when his wife’s 8-year-old niece offered her piggy bank to help rebuild their house. Overwhelmed by the loss, he admitted, “I thought I would be stronger than this,” prompting Brown to praise his strength in helping others and highlighting the efforts of firefighters and emergency crews.

James Woods rips ‘ignorant’ troll 

James Woods clapped back at a troll on X who mocked him for losing his home in the Pacific Palisades wildfire. After the actor confirmed that his house had been destroyed, the troll seized the moment to criticise Woods’ past skepticism about climate change. “The irony of James Woods, known for his skepticism about climate change, losing his home to the very wildfires linked to climate change impacts in California, is striking,” the troll commented.

Not one to hold back, Woods responded sharply while taking aim at California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. In a fiery reply, he said, “This fire is not from ‘climate change,’ you ignorant a-shole. It’s because liberal idiots like you elect liberal idiots like Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass. One doesn’t understand the first thing about fire management, and the other can’t fill the water reservoirs. #INSTABLOCK.”