Meryl Streep cut a giant hole into her LA home fence to escape the fires
Meryl Streep cut a giant hole into the fence of her LA home to escape the wildfires, according to her nephew.
The destructive fires first broke on January 7 and have since destroyed thousands of homes, with at least 29 people known to have been killed. Among those to lose their homes include the artists Jhené Aiko, Madlib, Diane Warren, Harry Mack, Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith, and Beyonce‘s mother Tina Knowles.
Writing for the New York Magazine, Streep’s nephew Abe Streep explores how the resilience of LA residents is helping them rebuild their homes and lives, and cites the actor as an example.
“My aunt Meryl Streep received an order to evacuate on January 8, but when she tried to leave, she discovered that a large tree had fallen over in her driveway, blocking her only exit,” he wrote.
“Determined to make it out, she borrowed wire cutters from a neighbour, cut a car-size hole in the fence she shared with the neighbours on the other side and drove through their yard to escape.”
According to The Guardian, Streep owns a home in Pasadena, close to the Eaton fire. However, despite having an evacuation order it is not thought that the house burned down.
The wildfires were made “more likely” by human-caused climate change – a group of leading climate scientists have reported. A study, shared by World Weather Attribution, said that the hot, dry and windy conditions that drove fires in the Californian city were “35 per cent more likely due to warming caused primarily by the burning of oil, gas and coal.”
The FireAid show at LA’s Intuit Dome, raising funds for victims of the fire, will feature Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Gracie Abrams, Olivia Rodrigo and Stevie Wonder. Meanwhile, acts including Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anderson .Paak, No Doubt and Stevie Nicks have lined-up to perform at a sister FireAid concert held at Kia Forum.
Both concerts will be streamed globally, via platforms including Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Prime, in an attempt to raise funds for the victims of the fires.
A statement from organisers said proceeds from the gigs will be “distributed for short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California.”
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Aneesa Ahmed
NME
