Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Celebs can re people have
homes, cars, businesses and houses for the missing. “Put your mask on,” a beleaguered highway patrol man insists. “The atmosphere here is toxic, all sorts of dangerous materials have been incinerated.”
He is one of many assisting in the £14billion clean-up and reconstruction effort caused by three fires – Woolsey, Camp and Hill – across 111,000 acres.
As the winds increased, ash was blown into the air, heightening the apocalyptic atmosphere.
On Sunday, Robin had told fans that he, girlfriend April Geary and his two daughters were safe.
He wrote on Instagram: “April, Julia, Mia and I would like to thank the courageous firefighters and volunteers. As we drove to safety, they risked their lives trying to save our home.
“We”re safe and surrounded by friends and family. We thank you for all the love and support we’ve received and we send our love and prayers to everyone affected by the fires.”
A broad spectrum of people have been displaced, from vulnerable, lowincome families to Hollywood stars.
Some 48,390 homes, ranging from trailers to £100million mansions, are at high or extreme risk of wildfire damage. Fortunately the super-rich can afford to rebuild their lost material lives, unlike the many left destitute.
One man who shares this view is Scottish-born actor Gerard Butler, 49, who has lost his home but tells me: “It could have been a lot worse.”
He highlights the plight of those less fortunate than him, saying: “A lot was damaged but, to be honest, I feel bad. All down there in the gully is gone.
“There are so many communities here, trailer parks and suburban working-class houses, that are destroyed. People have lost everything.
“It’s just really sad, people give their lives to get to a place like this. I have lost a lot of belongings but I haven’t lost everything.”
Gerard is now teaming up with local community leaders to raise money for others. He says: “We are doing some community fundraisers to help those that are struggling more than others.
“The community here is so tight, that’s what I have to say.
“It’s amazing to see, even when I came here on Saturday when the fires had happened, how many people had struggled to get back in.
“We went round neighbours and helped fight some fires, some of the flames were still going. It’s been an amazing joint effort.” At one point the fire was growing so quickly it was eating up a football field-size piece of land every second.
Planes and helicopters can be heard whirring overheard as they battle with water and red fire retardants to slow the worst fires in Californian history.
Burned-out diggers lead up the spiral, scorched road to reality star Caitlyn Jenner’s mansion, which was in the epicentre of the Woolsey Fire.
The concrete property sits on top of a charcoal canyon, black palm trees piercing noxious air which, 72 hours ago, was filled with flames.
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