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Meryl Streep became her own hero while trying to escape the deadly Los Angeles wildfires earlier this month.
“Evacuation mandates were sent across the city,” Meryl’s nephew Abe Streep wrote in a New York Magazine article published on Tuesday, January 28. “My aunt Meryl Streep received an order to evacuate on January 8, but when she tried to leave, she discovered that a large tree had fallen over in her driveway, blocking her only exit.”
He recalled the 75-year-old actress’ strength in the face of danger, writing, “Determined to make it out, she borrowed wire cutters from a neighbor, cut a car-size hole in the fence she shared with the neighbors on the other side, and drove through their yard to escape.”
On January 7, wildfires burned through several acres surrounding the greater Los Angeles area, including Altadena and the Pacific Palisades. Meryl reportedly owns property in nearby Pasadena, which was close to the Eaton Fire in Altadena.
Martin Short — who is rumored to be in a romantic relationship with Only Murders in the Building costar Meryl — was also forced to evacuate the Palisades in early January. According to Abe, the actor retrieved family photo albums after one of his son’s called him to make sure he was preparing to leave.
“Short drove down toward the Pacific Coast Highway, only to find the exits from his neighborhood were clogged,” Abe wrote, noting that Short, 74, had experienced a similar wildfire incident in 1993, but firefighters were able to save his home.
The Saturday Night Live alum “remained in his car, where it took him more than an hour to cover a distance that would normally take five minutes” while exiting the area. Others abandoned their vehicles in order to flee quicker on foot.
Short’s home was spared once again, but one of his sons lost their house. “I will definitely stay in my home,” Short told Abe after the reality set in.
Actor Haley Joel Osment had a similar experience when leaving his home in Altadena, California. “After he let his dogs out into the yard, he saw a large plume of black smoke and a glow coming from the canyon,” Abe wrote of Osment’s recount of the Eaton Fire. “So he loaded up his dogs, passport, and family photos and went to his parents’ house, which was nearby.”
Both Osment, 36, and his parents lost their homes as a result of the wildfires. The Sixth Sense actor revealed that he plans to rebuild on his same plot of land.
There have been 12 deaths from the Palisades Fire and 17 from the Eaton Fire as of Tuesday, according to authorities. The Palisades Fire has burned more than 23,000 acres of land and is now 95 percent contained, per Cal Fire’s latest report.
The Eaton Fire has burned 1,021 acres since its star and is currently 99 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.
