Home Entertainment Jessica Simpson evacuates Hidden Hills mansion as smoke fills her backyard: ‘We stayed as long as we could’

Jessica Simpson evacuates Hidden Hills mansion as smoke fills her backyard: ‘We stayed as long as we could’

0 comments
Jessica Simpson fled her $22 Southern California home, formerly owned by Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, after a wildfire broke out in West Hills.

Jessica Simpson fled her $22 million Southern California home, formerly owned by Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, after a wildfire broke out in West Hills.

On Thursday night, the singer-turned-fashion mogul shared an ominous photo of her backyard, which was filled with thick clouds of smoke.

“We stayed as long as we could,” the singer wrote in an update to her Instagram Story.

She and her husband, former soccer pro Eric Johnson, share three children: Maxwell “Maxi” Drew, 12, Ace Knute, 11, and Birdie Mae, 5.

The family is among nearly 180,000 evacuees ordered to leave their homes as at least five fires continue to burn uncontrollably.

The natural disaster has displaced residents in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Hollywood and more areas of Southern California.

Jessica Simpson fled her $22 Southern California home, formerly owned by Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, after a wildfire broke out in West Hills.

The wildfire burning in West Hills, which has prompted mass evacuations in Calabasas, is being investigated as an arson and a suspect has been arrested.

The Kenneth Fire is currently raging through the West Hills at a rapid pace, and 900 exhausted first responders have been pulled from other high-priority infernos in Southern California to protect homes and try to contain the flames.

On Thursday, LAPD Senior Officer Charles Dinsel told NewsNation that a suspect is in custody and is suspected of intentionally setting the fire.

“Approximately 20 to 30 minutes later, citizens detained a suspect in the Woodland Hills area,” he said. “It is being investigated as a crime.”

Dinsel was asked directly if he believed the fire was intentionally set, and he said, “Right now, that’s what we believe.” Yeah.’

He said there was no clear motive, adding that the area is now being “closed” for further investigations.

As three intense fires rage out of control, authorities are slowly beginning to uncover the widespread devastation hidden beneath the flames. The death toll rose to seven on Thursday night and at least 10,000 structures are reported to have been leveled.

Sources told DailyMail.com that a resident called 911 to report a man trying to start a fire in the 21700 block of Ybarra Highway around 4:30 p.m.

1736484277 807 Jessica Simpson evacuates Hidden Hills mansion as smoke fills her

“We stayed as long as we could,” the singer wrote in an update to her Instagram Story.

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Topanga station.

“We cannot confirm any connection to any fire at this time,” said Los Angeles Police Department Drake Madison.

The arrest confirms Hollywood celebrities’ worst fears that their homes are being attacked.

Happy Days star Henry Winkler, 79, wrote on social media: ‘THERE IS A PILLAROMY here in Los Angeles. May they defeat you beyond recognition!!! The pain you have caused!!!’

Actress Alison Sweeney responded: “Okay.”

Singer Chris Brown also had his suspicions, writing: “Someone is starting these fires.” Shit that doesn’t add up.’

Television personality Elizabeth Chambers also weighed in, telling her fans that they “feel like this is so much more than nature.”

After confirming that a suspected arsonist had been arrested, Winkler updated his initial post, adding: “One in custody so far.”

A Los Angeles Fire Department official initially dismissed the claim, saying “there is no way to know at this time exactly where and how the series of fires started, but an investigation is underway.”

The family is among nearly 180,000 evacuees ordered to leave their homes as at least five fires continue to burn uncontrollably; Residents photographed evacuating before the Kenneth Fire on January 9, 2025 in Calabasas.

The family is among nearly 180,000 evacuees ordered to leave their homes as at least five fires continue to burn uncontrollably; Residents photographed evacuating before the Kenneth Fire on January 9, 2025 in Calabasas.

The fast-moving Kenneth Fire already covers 960 acres and threatens the Malibu Canyon area north of Highway 101 near Calabasas, home of Kourtney Kardashian and Will Smith. Kim and Khloe Kardashian live in nearby Hidden Hills; seen in 2018

The fast-moving Kenneth Fire already covers 960 acres and threatens the Malibu Canyon area north of Highway 101 near Calabasas, home of Kourtney Kardashian and Will Smith. Kim and Khloe Kardashian live in nearby Hidden Hills; seen in 2018

Heroic first responders were alerted to the latest fire on the upper Los Angeles-Ventura County border, which is rapidly spreading through the West Hills and invading homes in nearby Calabasas and Hidden Hills.

Authorities issued a chilling warning Thursday night urging residents not to ignore evacuation orders, with Sen. Adam Schiff stating bluntly: “If you stay, you’re going to die.”

“If you get an evacuation order, get out,” he said. “You may think you can escape a fire, but you can’t escape these fires. If you stay, you will die in them.

The fast-moving Kenneth Fire already covers 960 acres and threatens the Malibu Canyon area north of Highway 101 near Calabasas, home of Kourtney Kardashian and Will Smith. Kim and Khloe Kardashian live in nearby Hidden Hills.

Mandatory evacuation orders were announced as firefighters dropped water bombs from the sky in an effort to contain the fire, which is being driven by strong Santa Ana winds.

The highway out of Calabasas quickly came to a standstill with heavy traffic as locals heeded warnings and left their homes.

Residents across Southern California have been warned for days to have bags full of documents and important possessions packed and ready to grab in case of an emergency.

The fire was reported at 50 acres at 3:45 p.m., but had exploded to 791 acres by 4:45 p.m. By 6 p.m., it encompassed 960 acres.

Later Thursday, mandatory evacuation orders related to the Kenneth fire were reduced to evacuation warnings as authorities managed to stop the advance.

The natural disaster has displaced residents in Pacific Palisades (seen above on Thursday), Altadena, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Hollywood and more areas in Southern California.

The natural disaster has displaced residents in Pacific Palisades (seen above on Thursday), Altadena, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Hollywood and more areas in Southern California.

The combined death toll from all the fires has risen to seven, but officials have warned it is likely to continue to rise as dogs trained to detect human remains gain access to the charred remains of properties in fire-ravaged neighborhoods.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna urged “patience” with official death counts.

“At this point, frankly, we still don’t know,” he said. ‘I think the death toll will increase. I hope I’m wrong.’

Across Los Angeles, about 180,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, while another 200,000 have been put on alert and warned to consider fleeing their homes.

Los Angeles County officials say an evacuation order alert for residents near the Kenneth Fire in West Hills was mistakenly sent countywide Thursday afternoon.

The alert was only intended for residents of Calabasas and Agoura Hills.

The damage caused by the two largest fires, the Pacific Palisades and Eaton, has been immense. According to authorities, up to 10,000 structures have been destroyed.

Cal Fire spokesman David Acuña provided a chilling new warning for Californians as they look to the future and consider rebuilding their lives.

“There really isn’t a fire season, it’s a fire year,” he said. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years and I’ve never seen it this bad.”

Flames (seen above) from the Palisades Fire burn a home amid a powerful wind storm Thursday.

Flames (seen above) from the Palisades Fire burn a home amid a powerful wind storm Thursday.

Similarly, Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin said, “The level of devastation is staggering.”

Neither of the two large fires have been contained at all.

Eaton now covers 13,690 acres, while the larger Palisades fire extends beyond 17,200 acres.

The high fire weather risk will continue through Friday, National Weather Service forecasters in Los Angeles said Thursday afternoon in a social media post.

Santa Ana winds will be moderate to strong Thursday night, maintaining the fire threat in the area centered on Los Angeles and Ventura County through Friday morning.

“However, the threat does not end after Friday,” the post said. Offshore winds will continue into early next week, peaking on Sunday and Tuesday into Wednesday.

The systemic failures in the deep blue city have led many to question how things could have gotten out of control and led many to call for the resignation of Mayor Karen Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom.

Bass is under pressure to resign amid the ongoing bushfire crisis, with revelations that heroic firefighters struggled to access enough water to battle the infernos and fire hydrants were empty.

Residents are photographed walking past a burned home after searching their home for belongings during the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades on Thursday.

Residents are photographed walking past a burned home after searching their home for belongings during the Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades on Thursday.

It cut the Los Angeles Fire Department’s budget by $17.6 million in 2024 after being talked out of cutting $23 million, and officials ignored warnings about the fire threat.

President Joe Biden later claimed the problems were self-inflicted to avoid fanning the flames further.

“What I know after speaking with the governor is that there is concern that there has also been a water shortage,” he said at a news conference Thursday.

‘The fact is that the utility companies understandably turned off the power because they were worried that the lines carrying power would be brought down and cause more fires.

‘When he did that, he cut off the ability to generate water pumping, that’s what caused the lack of water in these hydrants.’

You may also like