LA’S rich and famous are hiring $2,000-an-hour private firefighters to save their million-dollar homes and businesses as the wildfires rage on.
As the flames continue to force thousands out of their homes, some celebs and billionaires have sparked backlash for their “tone-deaf” move to save their investments.
Firefighters have been struggling to contain the fires for daysCredit: Getty
Private firefighters guard this Hollywood Hills house and use sprinklers to “cascade water from the second-story eaves” to tackle a potential fireCredit: Twitter/@mgafni
Keith Wasserman faced heat online for his private firefighter requestCredit: X / Keith_Wasserman
Rick Caruso confirmed that he had deployed private firefighters to protect his real estateCredit: Getty
Keith Wasserman, co-founder of real estate investment firm Gelt Venture Partners, provoked fury after a post on X, in which he asked for “private firefighters” to protect his land in the A-list neighbourhood of the Pacific Palisades.
The region has been devastated by the ongoing inferno with emergency services still struggling to contain the fires there.
Keith’s post on Friday read: “Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades?
“Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you.”
The billionaire owns a mansion in the wealthy area, as well as an upscale outdoor mall, which he is trying to protect from raging fires.
Social media users criticized Keith, slamming his call for help as “incredibly tone deaf”.
Commenter Sam Vance wrote: “Incredible nerve. His family is evacuated and he’s trying to hire private firefighters to risk their lives to save a home he most certainly has insured.
“Incredibly tone deaf.”
User Renny added: “So you’re suggesting that potentially lifesaving resources (even if ‘private’) should be diverted to save your house because you’re rich while tens of thousands of people try to evacuate?”
Keith hit back at those commenting on his post online dubbing them “trolls”.
Billionaire developer and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso is also receiving backlash online after it was reported that had hired private fire crews to protect his properties in the Palisades Village.
Rick served two stints as president of the Department of Water and Power and owns a mansion in the area as well as a luxury mall.
He confirmed that he had a team of private firefighters deployed in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday night to protect his retail space but that water was in short supply.
This outraged many who believed that water supplies were not being fairly disrupted to help save people’s lives and homes in the area with some online calling for an investigation to be launched.
On Wednesday, a video shared to X showed private firefighters guarding a home, and using sprinklers to fight the flames.
San Francisco Chronicle investigative reporter Matthias Gafni said: “They’ve set up sprinklers to cascade water from the second story eaves.”
It comes as:
- At least 13 people still missing with four blazes out of control
- Residents got trapped in gridlock traffic trying to escape
- First details of victims in LA wildfires emerge
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make surprise LA appearance
- Former Aussie 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 actor tragically 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed in wildfire
- A-lister celebs battled to get rooms in LA
She also noted that the crew were expected to guard the home all night to protect the owner’s property.
Company Covered 6, who offer fire protection services and safety training to the Hollywood elite, revealed that they had been inundated with calls.
Owner Chris Dunn told the Mail on Sunday: “My phone has been ringing off the hook. Demand has never been higher.”
One wealthy source said: “This week’s events have shown you can’t trust the city to protect your property.
However, some have argued that if the city cannot be trusted to protect people, then celebs have every right to seek private support.
The source added: “I have the money, so why not?”
Private firefighters are not uncommon in LA with Kim Kardashian admitting that her home in Hidden Hills California was saved by private crews in the 2013 wildfires.
A view of the Palisades fire burningCredit: Getty
Fire retardant covers a pool and lounge chairs after being dropped from a firefighting aircraft battling the Palisades FireCredit: Getty
An air tanker drops fire retardant at the Palisades FireCredit: Reuters
In 2019, private firefighting companies started offering “on-call” wildfire protection to wealthy Californians in the face of increasing blazes of greater intensity.
In 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported that some private crews were failing to coordinate with local agencies.
This meant that first responders were left having to worry about private crews as well as the residents in threatened areas.
Strict water-conserving measures have been in place since 2022, with residents restricted to watering their gardens twice a week for eight minutes at a time.
Kim has been fined previously for going over her water allowance in 2022, by using 232,000 gallons of water more than her allocation.
Other celebrities including Sylvester Stallone and comedian Kevin Hart were also fined.
It has since been noted that Kim has since installed water-saving measures.
One neighbor of Ms Kardashin said: “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.”
Kim Kardashian has been fined previously for going 232,000 gallons over her allotted water allowance during a droughtCredit: GettyLA DEVASTATION
This comes as the devastating fires continue to rip through Los Angeles, displacing thousands and resulting in unseen damage to the area.
Some 153,000 LA residents are now under mandatory evacuation orders as wind gusts as high as 80mph are set to hit in the next few days – making it even more difficult to contain the blazes.
The wildfires are thought to have 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed at least 16 people so far.
Four wildfires are currently burning around Los Angeles with two of to others now being described as contained.
The Palisades fire is the biggest of all and has so far burned down 22,660 acres of land destroying more than 5,316 structures.
Firefighters have only been able to contain 11 per cent of the fire, according to the LA Fire Department.
High winds have caused the Palisades Fire in Southern California to spread towards the east.
LA’s fire chief Kristin Crowley said last night saw a “significant flare up” in parts of the Palisades Fire tragedy.
The chief added that “we will be facing another critical weather event” due to the high winds as the flames continue to starch the region.
Some 153,000 LA residents are now under mandatory evacuation ordersCredit: Reuters
The wildfires are thought to have 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed at least 16 people so farCredit: Getty
Authorities have now turned previous evacuation warnings into mandatory orders, urging people to leave the area from Sunset Boulevard north to Encino Reservoir.
High winds have caused the Palisades Fire in Southern California to spread towards the east.
LA’s fire chief Kristin Crowley said last night saw a “significant flare up” in parts of the Palisades Fire tragedy.
Affluent residents of Mandeville Canyon and Brentwood are now desperately looking for a way out as the fire approaches the area.
Thousands of locals have been ordered to evacuate immediately.
The nearby Sunset Boulevard has started to overflow with escaping motorists as long queues are starting to form on the busy roads.
Brentwood is one of the poshest areas of LA – known for its large homes and celebrity residents.
Celebrities including Lebron James, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jennifer Garner have homes in the area.
Their residences are all now under threat.
American politician Robert F. Kennedy Jr also lives in Brentwood in his $6.6million home, while Vice President Kamala Harris also has a home in the area.
The Getty Centre – an iconic $1.3billion art gallery – is also within the evacuation zone.
The nearby Sunset Boulevard has started to overflow with escaping motorists as long queues are starting to form on the busy roads.
Prevent looting
A 6pm to 6am curfew has been imposed in the worst-hit areas to prevent looting.
Looters dressing as firefighters are storming residential areas in the wake of the tragedy.
Members of the National Guard — the equivalent of the UK’s Army Reserve — have been drafted in to help enforce it.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said 22 people had so far been arrested for curfew violations, trespassing, burglary and looting.
He said yesterday that it was unclear how the blazes began and urged the public to get in touch if they have useful information.
He added: “We are not going to leave any rock unturned if this is a criminal act . . . everything is absolutely on the table.”
Mayor Karen Bass said she condemns criminal “predators” who are using the fires to take advantage of others.
Authorities are now working alongside the FBI as investigations continue over the wildfires.
A homemade sign sits on the ground near homes destroyed by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood in Los AngelesCredit: Reuters
National Guard close streets enforcing a curfew in evacuation order zonesCredit: Getty
A 6pm to 6am curfew has been imposed in the worst-hit areas to prevent looting
Meanwhile, LA County officials have declared a health emergency – warning people that wildfire smoke and particulate matter could pose immediate and long-term threats.
People have been advised not to leave their houses and wear masks if needed.
Fires and strong winds have “severely degraded air quality… posing immediate and long-term risks to public health”, a statement read.
The devastating fires are set to have a costly impact on the city and its residents – with private forecaster Accuweather estimating the total damage and economic loss up to $150 billion.
Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed over 1,400 firefighters, with additional teams arriving from neighbouring states, but the battle to contain the flames is far from over.
He has also called for an independent investigation after firefighters complained about dropping water pressure in many hydrants across the city.
The governor has received severe backlash over the handling of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
The most prominent criticism came from Donald Trump who blamed Newsomn for failing to contain the fires.
He again wrote on social media today: “The fires are still raging in LA. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out.”
Satellite pictures have revealed whole blocks of homes in Los Angeles have been burned to rubble by the wildfires.
The snaps show before, during, and after the uncontrolled blazes have burned through LA homes and celebrity enclaves and caused thousands to flee.
Some of those homes belong to celebrities, with Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Miles Teller, and Anthony Hopkins among those to lose their abodes.
HOLLYWOOD CELEBS
The wind-fuelled flames haven’t spared the homes of the rich and famous with Hollywood A-listers tragically seeing their houses turned to smouldering rubble.
This includes supermodel Bella Hadid, Spencer Pratt and Oscar winner Mel Gibson.
Other celebrities like Tom Hanks, 68, and Steven Spielberg, 78, had their homes narrowly spared in the fires.
A former Aussie 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 actor was tragically 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed in the devastating wildfires after his mum failed to save him due to water shortage.
Brit-𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 Rory Callum Sykes, 32, was left trapped inside a self-contained cottage in Malibu after it caught fire from flying embers.
Mum Shelley said she tried to put out the embers that landed on the roof of the 17-acre property with a hose but the water supply was turned off.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance in Los Angeles to meet the victims of the devasting wildfires.
The Duke and Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 also served food and donated toys and essential supplies to the victims outside the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena.
Rory Callum SykesCredit: X
Anthony Mitchell
Victor ShawCredit: ABC NEws
Rodney NickersonCredit: FACEBOOK/UNPIXS
