Ben Affleck was in for an unwelcome surprise on Tuesday when he arrived home as a massive fire was sweeping through part of Los Angeles’ west side.
The 52-year-old star was photographed driving up to the bachelor pad he’s been renting in the tony Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles since his split from Jennifer Lopez.
He appeared to have an expression of shock on his face as he rolled the window down, despite the poor air quality due to nearby forest fires.
In addition to destroying several homes in the upscale neighborhood, the fire also led to the cancellation of several Hollywood premieres, including an event for ex-girlfriend Jennifer’s recent film Unstoppable.
Ben is a producer on the film — alongside his best friend Matt Damon — but it’s unclear if he plans to attend the premiere, as he’s largely been involved in publicity events for the inspiring sports drama in order to keep the focus on Jennifer’s work. a screen.
Ben was dressed for the evening in a dark blue suit and white shirt, although he left it unbuttoned and without a tie.
Ben Affleck, 52, returned to his home in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday night, only to find that a rapidly escalating wildfire nearby was within sight.
It is unclear how far the fire may advance overnight, but it has already destroyed the homes of some stars in the area, and many others live in the affected area.
The Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Penn’s west side is home to a host of stars, including Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks, Miles Teller, Reese Witherspoon, Adam Sandler, Jhene Aiko and more.
Actor James Woods shared footage of the fire on Instagram on Tuesday when he announced he was evacuating the scene.
The wildfire has already burned through more than 1,200 acres in the area, which is sparsely populated with huge celebrity estates surrounded by hills covered in vegetation, leaving plenty of fuel for the fire, unlike the denser neighborhoods inland.
The Armageddon star has only lived in the neighborhood for a short time after purchasing a home in the area for $20.5 million following his split from Jennifer Lopez.
Although it’s far from the lavish retreat he and his ex lived in together in Beverly Hills, it’s not small at 6,247 square feet, five bedrooms and six bathrooms.
Before that, he lived in the massive 38,000-square-foot Georgian mansion that he and Lopez bought for $60 million.
It has 12 bedrooms and 24 bathrooms and features many amenities, including a 12-car garage and an elevator, but so far the couple has not found a buyer after putting it on the market for $68 million.
The actor looked shocked as he sat in his car. He was wearing a dark blue suit and white shirt after returning home from his office
The fire led to the cancellation of several film premieres, including the cancellation of Jennifer Affleck’s previous film, Unstoppable, which he produced; They were seen together in February 2024 in Hollywood
It’s unclear if Penn plans to attend the premiere, as he skipped most of the promotional events in order to keep the focus on Lopez, the film’s star; Lopez was cast in the movie Unstoppable
After his split from Jennifer – but before she announced his divorce filing – Ben was seen living in a rented apartment in Brentwood, which was not too far from his current home and kept him in the same neighborhood as his ex-wife Jennifer Garner. His children live there.
Hollywood stars reacted with shock and concern on social media as the fires spread thanks to winds sweeping through Los Angeles that at times exceeded 100 mph.
“Please send prayers and strength tonight to everyone in Los Angeles affected by these devastating fires. “Los Angeles is in a state of emergency and over 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate,” Chris Pratt captioned a photo of a firefighter battling the blaze on social media.
The Hills star Spencer Pratt was one of the unlucky people whose home was engulfed by a rapidly spreading wildfire.
He was seen watching the fire approach his home in Pacific Palisades from a nearby hill and filmed a video of a plane dropping water on a nearby hill earlier in the day, but he and his wife, Heidi Montag, were forced to evacuate with their two young sons later. Before their house burned to the ground.
the Los Angeles Times The British newspaper “Daily Mail” reported on Tuesday that the Getty Villa Museum, a museum designed in the image of an ancient Roman villa, is threatened by massive fires.
Some plants on the museum building were burned, but buildings on campus are said to remain safe, and artwork and sculptures have been sealed to prevent smoke damage.
Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, boasted in a statement that the Getty Villa had made “extensive efforts to remove trees from the surrounding area as part of year-round fire mitigation efforts.”
The entire city was hit by strong winds exceeding 100 mph in some areas, sparking wildfires across 1,200 acres of Pacific Ocean that forced thousands to evacuate (pictured Tuesday).
Many celebrities live in the evacuation zone, including Tom Hanks, Chris Pratt and Reese Witherspoon. The Hills star Spencer Pratt filmed a plane dropping water on a nearby hill before flames later destroyed the home he shares with Heidi Montag and their two sons.
Eugene Levy, 78, was among the Pacific Palisades residents caught in the crush of residents fleeing the upscale area amid a fast-moving wildfire in the Los Angeles foothills, which was exacerbated by a severe wind storm; Filmed in January 2019 in Los Angeles
“Some trees and plants at the site have been burned, but the staff and group are still safe,” she added.
Dry conditions and high winds allowed a second fire to break out in Altadena to the east, prompting residents in nearby Pasadena to evacuate.
As West Side residents scrambled to make a last-minute escape, several people were stuck in massive traffic jams, including Schitt’s Creek star Eugene Levy.
Ultimately, many drivers left their cars on the streets and continued on foot, and fire brigades were forced to bulldoze rows of cars to reach the affected areas.