Sean Penn compared the devastation in Los Angeles caused by the current fires to the damage in the Middle East, in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Monday night.
“This has been a worst-case scenario that everyone in the area is worried about for a long time,” the Academy Award-winning actor, 64, told Cooper in an interview in Pacific Palisades, an area charred by the fire. .
The Santa Monica, California, native continued, “It’s like, you know, it’s Gaza to the west up there,” referring to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Milk star explained how shocking it was to see fires break out quickly and gut cities, even in areas where they are an annual concern.
“We know there are going to be wildfires in this area… so people make a decision living in this area,” the Mystic River star said. “But for people who live, in particular, in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, etc., this is very unexpected.”
The Oscar-winning star defended the response amid harsh criticism directed at top officials such as California Governor Gavin Newsome and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.
Sean Penn, 64, compared the devastation in Los Angeles caused by the ongoing fires to the damage in the Middle East in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Monday afternoon, saying: “It’s like, you know, It’s Gaza to the west up there.”
Firefighters continued their work in burning residential areas as wildfires continue to rage in Los Angeles on Monday.
“Um, I don’t prescribe too much complaining conversations in terms of reaction,” the Fast Times at Ridgemont High star said. ‘In fact, I thank every last firefighter, we have great firefighters from Cal Fire and LA City, Los Angeles County and everyone who has come.
“But when you have the kind of winds that we had, I don’t think humanity has found a solution that is bigger and more powerful than us.”
The Dead Man Walking actor said it was jarring to see a long-standing community devastated by fires.
“It’s really exciting to see all the legacy of a community,” he said. “I think about these nine-year-olds who were on the corner on their bikes every day, knowing every corner and every store and store owner, and it all disappeared, so it’s more personal in that sense.
‘It looks very, very familiar to me immediately. I won’t have to familiarize myself with this area – so many people we all know and care about have lost their homes.’
Amid the death toll of 24 on Monday night, the I Am Sam actor said he was grateful there were no casualties in line with the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, where the estimated death toll was around 220,000 people, according to the United Nations.
“Thank God, we haven’t lost as many lives as we had in Port-au-Prince,” said the actor, who participated in the relief efforts 15 years ago.
Penn also spoke about his nonprofit’s efforts. CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) What he did after the fires, including distributing cash vouchers, N95 masks and hygiene kits to people in need.
The Academy Award-winning actor talks with Cooper Monday in an interview in Pacific Palisades, an area charred by the fire.
Amid Monday night’s death toll of 24, Penn said he was grateful there were no casualties in line with the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, where the estimated death toll was around 220,000 people.
“We were on the ground the first day and we worked in the main shelter at the Pasadena Civic Center addressing the immediate needs,” Penn said, “which will be cash assistance in particular, which are two types of categories: those who can apply and need navigation in the app.
“And then there are those who don’t have social security numbers, for various reasons, that we can apply some of our funds to.”
He added: “Just slowly close your eyes to think about what it would mean if everything suddenly disappeared.”
“In addition, of course, to the emotional trauma that comes with it, cash is a necessary freedom to obtain on a day-to-day basis.”
Penn also spoke about the efforts his nonprofit CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) made in the wake of the fires.
Authorities said Monday that the death toll had reached at least 24 people, according to the APadding that the total number of victims was expected to rise amid ongoing missing person searches.
Officials said Monday that the Palisades Fire was 11 percent contained, while the Eaton Fire was 27 percent contained, having decimated an estimated area dwarfing 62 square miles.
The National Weather Service said in red flag warnings that 50 mph winds will continue to aggravate conditions Monday through Wednesday, with a peak expected Tuesday.
On Monday, President Joe Biden urged Congress to “step up” and allocate the tens of billions of dollars that will be needed to rebuild affected areas. He said the federal government plans to pay the expenses over the next 180 days.
The president said at the White House that firefighters and first responders were “the angels” amid his efforts to put out the fires, while Vice President Kamala Harris said the aftermath of the fires was “truly heartbreaking.”