Sarah Michelle Gellar and other prominent Hollywood figures find themselves caught in the midst of devastating Southern California wildfires.
As reported by The Independent, celebrities are voicing sharp criticism of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom over their handling of the catastrophic fires that have forced mass evacuations across Los Angeles County.
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star expressed her frustration on Instagram Stories, highlighting the lack of traffic management during evacuation efforts.
Multiple fires have erupted across the region, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Tyler, and Woodley fires, claiming five lives and displacing more than 70,000 residents.
James Woods, who lost his home in the Palisades fire, directed his criticism toward state leadership. The Salvador actor dismissed climate change explanations, instead placing blame on what he perceived as inadequate fire management policies under Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass's administration.
Fitness expert Jillian Michaels joined the chorus of criticism, pointing out specific leadership failures. She highlighted Mayor Bass's absence during the crisis, noting her presence in Ghana, and raised concerns about budget cuts to fire departments and infrastructure issues.
Michaels shared additional insights about the emergency response timeline, expressing particular concern about water availability. She stated:
California governor @GavinNewsom issues a press release admitting they knew about the insane fire risk this past Sunday because he was propositioning fire engines. And yet, he just called in the national guard a few hours ago. Pacific Palisades ran out of water at 3am. I'm so so upset for the people of California. My family who stayed. My lifelong friends who live there. Our brave firefighters. This is not a partisan issue it's pure incompetence and misprioritization.
The fires have now consumed over 27,000 acres, marking them among Los Angeles's most destructive wildfire events. High winds continue to fuel the flames, complicating firefighting efforts across the county.
Several high-profile entertainment figures, including Billy Crystal, Anthony Hopkins, and Eugene Levy, have lost their homes to the fires. The destruction has sparked a broader conversation about emergency preparedness and disaster response in the region.
Local authorities have declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles, mobilizing additional resources to combat the fires. However, the declaration came after significant damage had already occurred, leading to questions about the timing of official responses.
The wildfire crisis has exposed significant gaps in Los Angeles's emergency response capabilities. The situation has evolved from a natural disaster into a political flashpoint, with public figures demanding accountability from city and state leadership.
Sarah Michelle Gellar's initial observation about traffic management highlighted a crucial oversight in evacuation planning. Her statement resonated with thousands of residents who faced similar challenges during their evacuation attempts.
The combination of reduced fire department budgets, infrastructure problems, and delayed emergency responses has created a perfect storm of criticism against local government officials. The incident continues to raise questions about future disaster preparedness in Southern California.
