California is under a state of emergency as major fires rip through the Los Angeles area. Evacuation orders are in place in several areas. The fires have decimated homes, businesses, and schools, and officials believe the fires will continue to burn and cause more destruction on Thursday, January 9th.

©New York Times

According to the New York Times, Traci Park, a Los Angeles city councilwoman, said, “This is going to be devastating, a devastating loss, for all of Los Angeles.” Now, Disney CEO Bob Iger is speaking out about the fires as well.

CEO Bob Iger shared a post on Instagram detailing the destruction he witnessed in the Pacific Palisades area on Wednesday. He included one video and three photos of the city, where some buildings appear to have been reduced to ashes and others were severely damaged.

Via @robertiger on Instagram

He said, “I drove through Pacific Palisades today and witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by the fires. My heart goes out to everyone who has lost homes and businesses, and to all whose lives have been impacted, including thousands of Disney employees.”

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A post shared by Robert Iger (@robertiger)

While Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim, which is about 47 miles from the Pacific Palisades, former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde explained that many Disney Imagineers live in the Verdugo Mountains region of Los Angeles County. Rohde shared a message on Instagram explaining,

“Way back when Imagineering was hiring for Epcot, one of the few places we young imagineers could afford to get a house was Altadena, a sleepy, little foothill community full of wonderful old houses that needed some love and attention. So homespun and midwestern in flavor that all of you across the country have seen it hundreds of times standing in for anywhere America in film and television.

First, a few of us moved up there, and then more, until there was quite a population of Imagineers living in the Altadena foothills. Over the decades new generations joined us. Our children grew up there, went to school, learned to drive, even got married where the palms and pines came together.

Most of the places where we all lived burnt to ashes last night. The homes of many Imagineers who worked on many of the parks and attractions that Disney fans know and love are gone. Homes filled with memories, care, love and the expression of the same creative talent that went into the parks and films. Fire, when it comes, comes so fast that we must leave that all behind.

Pacific Palisades and Malibu are more famous and their equally devastating situation easily captures the nations eye. But Altadena was our home and home base. And as of this evening much of my old neighborhood of Altadena has vanished and with it the homes of many of my dear friends and colleagues. Send a prayer.”

Via @joerohde on Instagram

Disneyland Resort is still open at this time, but Universal Studios Hollywood is closed. We will continue to monitor for updates. California Governor Gavin Newsom shared a message on X, formerly Twitter, urging California residents to stay safe: “Southern California residents — please remain vigilant tonight. Listen to local officials and be ready to evacuate if you’re near impacted areas.”

More than 7,500 firefighting personnel are on the ground working with local and federal partners to respond to California's ongoing historic wildfires.

Southern California residents — please remain vigilant tonight. Listen to local officials and be ready to evacuate if you're…

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 9, 2025

We will continue to share updates as the situation develops.

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