Southern California Wildfire Burns Down Film Production Sets, 150+ Homes

Sarah Le
Updated:

The fast-growing Woolsey fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties in Southern California has now expanded to at least 70,000 acres with zero containment, officials said on Nov. 10.

Around 250,000 people have evacuated and at least 150 homes destroyed. Two people have also been founded dead in the burned area, although their official cause of death has not been confirmed.

Firefighters from various departments work to protect structures as the Woolsey Fire moves through the property on Cornell Road near Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills, Calif. on Nov. 9, 2018. (Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)
Firefighters from various departments work to protect structures as the Woolsey Fire moves through the property on Cornell Road near Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills, Calif. on Nov. 9, 2018. Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images

Several filming locations for popular television shows and some famous homes have been damaged or threatened by the wildfire.

Park rangers from the Santa Monica Mountains confirmed that Western Town at Paramount Ranch in Agoura, which was used in nearly 500 productions, was burned down as of Nov. 9.

The film set was featured in shows such as “Westworld,” “Deadwood,” “Gunsmoke,” “X-Files,” and “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.”

A structure on the property of the Bachelor Mansion, which served as the set for the hit reality show “The Bachelor” was also reportedly damaged, while some media announced the mansion itself had burned.

“The ‘Bachelor Mansion’ is a private home in one of the current burn areas of Los Angeles,” said the show producers in a statement obtained by Variety on Nov. 9.

“The area has been closed to traffic so we do not know the current status of the home. It is primarily a private residence, and our main concern is with the family who has been displaced, their neighbors, and all the communities impacted by this tragic fire. We thank the tireless efforts of the first responders here in Los Angeles County and across the State.”

However, reporter Chris Woodyard posted a photo on Twitter on Nov. 10, saying the main house was still standing, while the house next door had burned to the ground.

The Southern California wildfire forced the production team for Comedy Central’s “Drunk History” to evacuate their filming location on Nov. 9 at King Gillette Ranch, which was also used for the set of the show “The Biggest Loser.”

Co-host Derek Waters posted the news on Instagram, saying, “First time I’ve ever pulled the plug on shooting Drunk History. I love my job but I love my crew more. this ain’t funny. Be safe everyone and save the animals.”

Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas was also reportedly damaged in the Woolsey fire. The location was purchased by 20th Century Fox in 1946 and was used for filming the television show “M*A*S*H,” as well as the movies “Planet of the Apes,” “Love Me Tender,” and “The Seven Year Itch.”

A portion of the park includes one of President Ronald Reagan former ranches, the most famous of which is the Reagan Ranch Center in Santa Barbara. The Agoura Hills location was photographed as it was on fire on Nov. 9.

Flames overtake the Reagan Ranch, once owned by President Ronald Reagan, at Malibu Creek State Park during the Woolsey Fire near Malibu, Calif. on Nov. 9, 2018. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Flames overtake the Reagan Ranch, once owned by President Ronald Reagan, at Malibu Creek State Park during the Woolsey Fire near Malibu, Calif. on Nov. 9, 2018. Photo by David McNew/Getty Images

According to media reports, musician and singer of the song “Blurred Lines,” Robin Thicke, lost his Malibu home in the fire after evacuating on Nov. 9.

He posted a photo of the beach scattered with scorched debris on Nov. 10 with his 8-year-old son Julian on Instagram.

The director of the film “Doctor Strange,” Scott Derrickson, announced on Twitter on Nov. 9 that his house had been destroyed.

“We lost our home, but we are all safe and that’s the important thing. Gonna be offline for awhile,” Derrickson tweeted.

Actor Orlando Bloom from “Lord of the Rings” posted a photo of his neighborhood on Instagram on Nov. 9, showing the hills behind a line of houses covered in massive flames.

Amidst the devastation and chaos, actor James Woods, an outspoken conservative, helped coordinate the safety of local residents and their animals on Twitter for wildfires across California, using the hashtags #SoCalFiresJamesWoods and #CampFireJamesWoods.

Residents thanked the actor for his actions.

Sarah Le
Sarah Le
reporter
Sarah Le is an editor for The Epoch Times in Southern California. She lives with her husband and two children in Los Angeles.
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