Dozens of Hallmark Channel stars, many who live in and around Hollywood, are in shock over widespread devastation caused by the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, per The Weather Channel. The fast-moving fires were fueled by whipping winds of up to 100 miles an hour that began late on January 7, 2025, with the majority of devastation occurring the following day.
After massive evacuations, LA-based entertainers are among the thousands of residents facing a range of unfathomable circumstances, from Hallmark alum Cameron Mathison losing his house to many others comforting and sheltering friends and family.
On January 8, firefighters battled blazes from Pacific Palisades in the morning to Runyon Canyon at night, but fires were still blazing across the city on the morning of January 9, per CNN. Many Hallmark stars have used their social media platforms to share updates, resources, and fundraisers with their followers as well as their hopes and prayers for everyone impacted by the historic fires.
Los Angeles-Based Hallmark Stars Express Disbelief Over Destruction: ‘Beyond Comprehension’
Many Hallmark stars who live in the Los Angeles area shared their experiences on social media, stunned by what they were witnessing. On the night of January 7, Kristoffer Polaha shared a video, seen above, taken outside his home to give people a sense of the whipping winds blowing in.
Writing that he’d been “inundated with texts and calls” from people concerned about him, Polaha shared that his family was “well out of harms way” but that their old neighborhood and community in the Pacific Palisades was not and needed prayers.
Early in the day on January 8, “The Groomsmen” star Heather Hemmens shared a photo in her Instagram Stories of the red-tinted sky near her home and added the hashtag #PalisadesFire. Over the photo, she wrote, “The fire is now coming over the hill directly towards my house. We have evacuated and are safe, thank you to everyone who has checked on me. Praying for our beautiful neighborhood. 💔💔💔”
Midday on January 8, Nikki DeLoach began posting photos and articles in her Instagram Stories about the ongoing devastation, writing on one, “Thank you to all of our loved ones who have checked in on us. We are safe, so far. However, thousands have been evacuated and continue to be. So many have lost everything.”
Late on January 8, DeLoach’s “Curious Caterer” co-star Andrew Walker posted a video in his Instagram Stories that was filmed while driving through a Los Angeles neighborhood nearly flattened by the fire. In addition to sharing links to resources for displaced families, Walker wrote, “Can’t believe my eyes. Prayers for everyone who’ve lost their homes.”
“Christmas With the Singhs” and “Virgin River” star Benjamin Hollingsworth, who also has a home in Los Angeles, shared a photo in his Instagram Stories of flames on the horizon behind the famed Santa Monica pier.
Over the image, Hollingsworth wrote, “My heart goes out all those displaced physically and emotionally. It’s beyond comprehension how devistating these fires are and how much has already been lost. Please be safe and please follow all evacuation orders.”
Hallmark Channel Stars Share Resources & Fundraisers as Fire Sweeps Through Los Angeles
Lots of Hallmark stars shared links to resources for those in need during the fires and others, including Sharon Lawrence in the post above, shared fundraisers that need donations for everyone from first responders to displaced families.
DeLoach urged her followers to donate to the LA Fire Department, which has launched a fund to purchase much-needed emergency wildfire equipment, and she encouraged readers to “pray for our city, its people and especially our first responders.”
Victor Webster shared a series of resources for evacuees in his Stories after writing over a photo of a firefighter battling a blaze, “This is devastating. So much respect for all those putting themselves in harms way to help others.”
His “Hannah Swensen Mysteries” co-star Alison Sweeney, who owns a home in the Hollywood Hills but primarily lives in Arizona, posted links to donate to the American Humane Society, which is helping to find and care for the many pets lost or left behind as families rushed to get out of their homes.
Many stars have also posted links to the Red Cross, Baby2Baby, and a Google doc from Mutual Aid LA with up-to-date information for residents looking for basic necessities and shelter for themselves and their pets.
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Hallmark Stars Share Emotional Updates Amid LA Wildfires: ‘Pray For Our City’