Don Cheadle and his family were evacuated from their home when the wildfires plaguing Los Angeles came within five blocks of their mansion. The dangerous proximity highlights the unprecedented scale of the 2025 wildfire crisis.
The actor, 60, is one of a string of celebrities who have been forced to leave their homes due to the killer infernos, which first erupted on Jan. 7. This marks one of the earliest major wildfire events in California’s recorded history.
“We were about five, six blocks from where it was,” Cheadle said on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” about his and his family’s ordeal. The distance represents approximately a quarter-mile from the active fire line.
Kimmel, 57, chipped in: “That’s too close.”
Cheadle added he has not yet moved back into his property, adding: “We are still out of the house. I just went back today to make sure that everything was everything. We have electricity now.” Power outages have affected more than 100,000 homes in the Greater Los Angeles area during this crisis.
The actor also said his family’s evacuation involved “bopping around” in hotels – adding: “We went in one hotel and that one got evacuated. Then we were at another hotel and they were like, “How long are you going to be here? ‘Cuz we got a lot of people. So can you please leave?’ So we left.” The hotel situation reflects the severe accommodation shortage facing evacuees across Los Angeles County.
Cheadle said he is now staying at a friend’s house after they “kindly let us stay in his kids’ room.” This type of community support has become crucial during the crisis, with local residents opening their homes to displaced neighbors.
“Waking up to the Billie Eilish poster on the wall is really nice,” he added, bringing a moment of levity to the serious situation.
Cheadle has been married to longtime partner, actress Bridgid Coulter, 56, since the Covid pandemic. The couple has been known for their environmental advocacy and support of climate change awareness initiatives.
As of Monday, Jan. 20, at least 27 people have died in the LA fires, with more than 80,000 people of the city displaced by the raging infernos. This represents the largest mass evacuation in Los Angeles history since the 1961 Bel Air fire.
Fire containment has recently increased, but the strong winds that first fueled the fires are expected to return until Wednesday, Jan. 22. Meteorologists predict gusts of up to 70 mph, potentially complicating firefighting efforts.
Other celebrities whose homes have been hit by the fires include Billy Crystal, Leighton Meester and Adam Brody, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Joshua Jackson, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake, Cary Elwes, Cameron Mathison, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag. The affected areas include some of Los Angeles’ most prestigious neighborhoods.
The January 2025 wildfires already have caused an estimated $2.3 billion in property damage, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in California’s recent history. Local authorities have mobilized more than 3,000 firefighters and emergency personnel to combat the blazes.
Environmental experts note that the unusual timing of these winter wildfires may be linked to climate change and prolonged drought conditions in Southern California. The region has experienced below-average rainfall for the past three years.
Recovery efforts are already underway in some areas, with local organizations and celebrity foundations pledging support for affected communities. The Los Angeles Fire Department continues to maintain evacuation orders in high-risk zones while working to establish containment lines around the most active fire fronts.
The crisis has sparked renewed discussions about urban planning and fire prevention strategies in wildland-urban interface areas. City officials are considering new regulations for construction and vegetation management in fire-prone neighborhoods.
