By Suzie Lethbridge
In the last few days, I’ve seen two significant, and very different, events take over social media. One being the iconic Victoria’s Secret Fashion show that takes place annually, the other being the South Californian wildfire that has ravaged communities.
The brutal wildfire broke out in the small town of Paradise but soon spread to the beautiful beach city of Malibu, a neighbourhood especially popular with Hollywood stars and models. The Fire has already torn it’s way through 100,000 acres and claimed the lives of 25 victims, it’s thought to have destroyed over 6,400 homes and 250 commercial buildings. Yet it still continues at a rapid pace, violently consuming anything and everything in it’s way.
“The magnitude of the destruction of the fire is unbelievable and heartbreaking.”
This has lead to the evacuation of over 250,000 local residents, including Lady Gaga, Will Smith, Orlando Bloom and the Kardashians. All of which and more have taken to social media to ask for their followers’ support and prayers.
I’m worried about my house🔥, but there is nothing I can do.
Friends houses have burned🙏🏻
I can’t bear the thought of there being no Malibu I’ve had a house in Malibu since 1972😭— Cher (@cher) November 9, 2018
Help people affected by the #CaliforniaFire by visiting https://t.co/5Dmboe4Eb9 call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text CAWILDFIRES to 90999 to make $10 donation. Includes shelter,food,water,physical and mental health resources as well as emotional support. pic.twitter.com/chritdoN9t
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) November 14, 2018
Grateful for the heroic @CAFirefighters battling the #CampFire #HillFire and #WoolseyFire and getting people to safety. Join me and my family in donating to the @CAfirefound to support our heroes and their families. Go to https://t.co/R67fNxEVOg
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) November 10, 2018
Grateful for the heroic @CAFirefighters battling the #CampFire #HillFire and #WoolseyFire and getting people to safety. Support our heroes and their families, please consider donating to @cafirefound here: https://t.co/opbNQ2ob94
— Khloé (@khloekardashian) November 10, 2018
The most heart breaking thing is how helpless the local evacuees have been left, all they can do is hope, pray and wait to see whether their homes have fallen victim to the savage wildfire. And whilst the rich have it all good, taking refuge in 5 star hotels and jetting off to other homes owned across the country, the less fortunate residents are left homeless and in desperate need of support.
Victoria’s Secret Model, Bella Hadid has taken to Instagram to express how overwhelming the wildfire has been and how deeply it has affected her family. The Hadid sisters’ former school, Malibu High, has apparently been engulfed by the flames, along with many other homes of close friends to the family. The Kardashian family has also reportedly fallen victim to the fire, with Caitlyn Jenner’s home having been destroyed and Kim and Kanye’s house having suffered some serious damage.
It’s been a heartbreaking few days. This is what’s left of my house. Love. Many people in Malibu and surrounding areas in California have lost their homes also and my heart goes out to everyone who was affected by these fires.
To help: https://t.co/YQCE1cLaej & @happyhippiefdn pic.twitter.com/vtLFytFmNw
— Liam Hemsworth (@LiamHemsworth) November 13, 2018
The Los Angeles Fire Department has reached out asking for any donations to help the firefighters risking their lives and working tirelessly to contain the Wildfire. Here’s where you can help;