Photo Credit: Getty Images
 
A devastating wildfire swept through Los Angeles' affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Tuesday, forcing nearly 30,000 residents to evacuate as winds exceeding 100 mph propelled the blaze across 1,200 acres of the celebrity-studded enclave.
 
Actor Ben Affleck, 52, returned to his Pacific Palisades residence Tuesday evening to find the approaching inferno visible from his property. Dressed in a navy suit, the visibly concerned star quickly departed for his ex-wife Jennifer Garner's nearby home, where their three children reside. The fast-moving fire has already claimed several luxury homes, including that of "The Hills" stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag.
 
"Please send prayers and strength tonight to everyone in Los Angeles affected by these devastating fires," actor Chris Pratt posted on social media as the city declared a state of emergency. The evacuation zone encompasses the homes of numerous Hollywood luminaries, including Tom Hanks, Reese Witherspoon, and Adam Sandler.
 
The Getty Villa, an architectural treasure housing priceless antiquities, faced direct threat from the advancing flames. While some vegetation on the museum grounds burned, Getty Trust President Katherine E. Fleming confirmed that "staff and the collection remain safe," crediting year-round fire mitigation efforts for protecting the facility.
 
The chaos of mass evacuation created gridlock throughout the area's winding hillside streets. "Schitt's Creek" star Eugene Levy, 78, found himself trapped in traffic as residents fled. "The smoke looked pretty black and intense over Temescal Canyon," Levy told the Los Angeles Times. Emergency crews were ultimately forced to bulldoze abandoned vehicles to access affected areas.
 
A second fire has ignited in Altadena, east of Pacific Palisades, expanding the emergency response area and prompting additional evacuations in neighboring Pasadena. The combination of extreme winds and dry conditions has created optimal conditions for fire spread, leaving thousands of residents uncertain about when they might return home.
 

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