Fury against ‘wasteful, entitled’ celebrities has grown last night as stars including Kim Kardashian were accused of squandering vital water resources that could have been used to save homes.
Strict water-conserving measures have been in place since 2022, with ‘ordinary’ residents restricted to watering their gardens twice a week for eight minutes at a time. However, Ms. Kardashian, who lives in a $60 million house in The Oaks – an exclusive gated community near the epicenter of one of this week’s fires – was fined by city authorities that year for using 232,000 gallons of water more than her allocation. Other celebrities, including Sylvester Stallone and Kevin Hart, were also fined.
The Mail on Sunday understands that Ms. Kardashian has since installed water-saving measures. However, the public’s anger towards celebrities’ alleged wastefulness has grown, with one neighbor saying, "These celebrities have a sense of entitlement. Everyone was told to cut back on water precisely for this situation, to preserve it to fight fires. They carried on watering because they could afford the fines."
Anger is also growing towards rich people hiring private firefighters for $2,000 an hour to protect their properties. Chris Dunn, owner of Covered 6, which provides the service to Hollywood’s elite, told The Mail on Sunday, "My phone has been ringing off the hook. Demand has never been higher."
As the Palisades Fire continues to spread, residents of Mandeville Canyon and Brentwood are trying to flee to safety. Footage from earlier today shows at least one house ablaze in the canyon and massive clouds of smoke billowing near Sepulveda Pass at Highway 405. The hellish flames have already claimed the lives of about 16 people while burning over 37,000 acres of land and destroying 12,000 structures in its wake.
Firefighters and helicopters have also been seen circling the area, making massive water drops as the 22,660-acre fire continues to spread. The National Weather Service has warned that locally strong Santa Ana winds, the nemesis of firefighters, could soon return.
The spread of flames has forced thousands more to evacuate from their homes in the upscale Brentwood and Encino suburbs, where several celebrities, including LeBron James, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Kamala Harris, own homes. James tweeted, "I pray this nightmare ends soon! So many prayers." Schwarzenegger’s Brentwood mansion is also under threat as LA authorities declared a local health emergency over night for the whole county due to poor air quality.
LA County Public Health issued a public health order, stating that the fires had "severely degraded air quality" that poses "immediate and long-term risks to public health." As airplanes continue dropping fire retardant in Mandeville Canyon, aiming to create a defensive barrier around homes, federal agents remain on the lookout for fire starters.
Conclusion:
The public’s anger towards celebrities’ alleged wastefulness has grown, with many accusing them of being out of touch with the struggles of ordinary people. The Palisades Fire has already claimed the lives of 16 people and burned over 37,000 acres of land, leaving thousands more to evacuate their homes.
FAQs:
- How many people have been affected by the Palisades Fire?
The fire has forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes, with an estimated 153,000 residents under mandatory evacuation orders and about 57,000 structures at risk. - How many fires are currently burning in the area?
According to state authority Cal Fire, there are at least six fires currently burning, with the Palisades fire being the largest. - What is the cause of the fires?
The cause of the fires is still under investigation, but strong Santa Ana winds are suspected to be a contributing factor. - What is being done to combat the fires?
Firefighters and helicopters are battling the blazes, and airplanes are dropping fire retardant to create a defensive barrier around homes. Federal agents are also on the lookout for fire starters.
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