Weather

Folks living near the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfire are on high alert after a resident confronted a suspicious hiker on a remote road in Topanga ... and now cops are involved.

TMZ obtained video of a tense interaction between a Topanga local and a lone hiker, who gave vague answers to basic questions about where he was going and what he was doing walking around with a backpack in a fire zone.

There are concerns arson is the cause of the Palisades Fire ... and at one point during the exchange, the hiker responds to a question about the contents of his backpacking by saying unprompted, "Definitely not any lighter fluid."

Beyoncé is reminding people to BeyGOOD ... by shelling out a hefty chunk of change through her foundation to support the Los Angeles wildfire relief effort.

The singer's foundation, BeyGOOD, which launched back in 2013, posted on IG Sunday they're "taking action by announcing the LA Fire Relief Fund with a donation of 2.5 million dollars" ... with the specific goal of helping those impacted by the Eaton Fire -- a blaze still burning in the northeast area of L.A.

The foundation noted ... "The fund is earmarked to aid families in the Altadena/Pasadena area who lost their homes, and to churches and community centers to address the immediate needs of those affected by the wildfires."

California Governor Gavin Newsom just called out Elon Musk, accusing him of exposing his own lies about a water shortage amid the L.A. wildfires -- saying it all went down during Elon's own live-streamed briefing with a fire command member.

Musk initially went off on X, blaming the massive loss of homes in the L.A. wildfires on "bad governance at a state and local level that resulted in a shortage of water." But, Newsom shared a clip of Musk talking to a firefighter, captioning it, "@ElonMusk exposed by firefighters for his own lies."

Newsom's clip shows Musk asking a firefighter, "What about water availability, was water availability -- I understand that was not an issue in Malibu, is that correct?"

Prince Harry and Megan Markle's wildfire relief efforts in L.A. aren't being appreciated by at least one celeb, Justine Bateman, who is calling them "disaster tourists."

Bateman jumped on X over the weekend to go on a rant about the former British royals, starting off by labeling Harry and Meghan "ambulance chasers."

The "Family Ties" actress then blasted the couple for a "repulsive photo op" in which they were filmed Friday touring the disaster area near Pasadena along with that city's mayor, Victor Gordo.

Joshua Jackson’s current and childhood home is the latest to be burned to the ground as wildfires continue to torch neighborhoods across the Los Angeles area.

The structure of the home in the Topanga Canyon neighborhood of L.A. was destroyed over the weekend as the Palisades Fire continues to ravage the area.

JJ's swimming pool remains the only thing on the property that's still intact as the flames left the structure and surrounding hillside completely burned.

Deon Cole had a super stressful week ... 'cause he ended up in the hospital on his birthday, and -- when he was finally discharged -- he went home and had to pack up and flee the Los Angeles wildfires.

The comedian and Old Spice pitchman posted about the unfortunate series of events late Friday night ... sharing a photo of himself in the car, packed with sentimental items like the flowers his mother gave him before she died back in 2021.

He also shared a clip ... showing the light from the blaze creeping over hills in the distance.

A man was arrested in Azusa -- a city just east of Pasadena where one of the largest fires in L.A. is raging -- Friday ... and, cops claim he may have tried to start another fire.

Azusa PD tells TMZ  ... officers were dispatched to a local park just before midnight in regards to a brush fire -- where they claim a witness told them the man who lit the fire was still at the scene.

Officers located the suspect -- a "transient" named Jose Carranza-Escobar -- who they claim admitted to lighting the fire. Cops then arrested Carranza-Escobar.

A former child actor is among the victims killed in the massive Los Angeles wildfires ... with his mother saying she could not save him in time.

Rory Callum Sykes -- who appeared in the 90s UK show "Kiddy Kapers" -- was killed at his family’s Malibu home on Wednesday, his his mother, Shelley Sykes, announced in an emotional social media post.

The British-born Australian actor -- born blind with cerebral palsy -- had his own cottage on the family's 17-acre Mount Malibu TV Studio estate, which burned down in the fire, per his mother.

T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach agree David Muir wearing a clothespin isn't a good look ... but, they say it might not be his fault -- 'cause there are always too many cooks in the kitchen.

The two former ABC News anchors talked about the viral moment on their show "Amy & T.J." in an episode titled "Does This Fire Make Me Look Fat?"

Holmes & Robach take a couple shots at the move ... claiming it will certainly come off as insensitive to many people who have lost homes in the Pacific Palisades wildfire and other Los Angeles-area blazes.

Angelina Jolie's focused on helping her close friends and family affected by the Los Angeles fires right now ... but, she hasn't forgotten the community at large.

The actress was out in L.A. Thursday night ... loading up supplies alongside her son Knox -- when a photog asked her if she was concerned about the fires at all.

Jolie -- clearly in a rush to get back home -- says she's sheltering people at her house ... and her primary concern is her loved ones at this time.

It was a mesmerizing and frightening moment Friday night, when a fire tornado was whipped up ... as massive blazes continued to destroy portions of Los Angeles.

The tornado -- or "firenado" -- was filmed by Fox 11 on the northern flank of the Palisades fire -- as winds whipped the massive flames into the stunning weather phenomenon.

Fox11's Adam Krueger marveled at the moment ... while explaining it occurs when a breeze meets up with an updraft -- causing a vortex, which picks up flames, resulting in the firenado.

Plenty of Angelenos are livid at Mayor Karen Bass right now in the midst of the deadly wildfires ravaging SoCal ... and Khloé Kardashian has made it clear she is among them!

Khloé called out the mayor on Friday night, after Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley did a stunning interview with FOX 11 in L.A. where she said the city (meaning Bass) failed her, essentially due to budget cuts ... calling the situation “no longer sustainable.”

Crowley groused the Mayor had called for massive budget cuts and she had pleaded more than a month ago for more money because there were firetrucks in such disrepair they couldn't go on the road, there were hydrants that needed fixing, etc, but it was met with deaf ears.

Jennifer Garner is like an untold number of L.A. residents who live in the fire zones and feel guilty they were spared when so many of their friends and neighbors were not.

Garner, standing in front of burned-down structures in the Pacific Palisades, told MSNBC alongside chef José Andrés, "I did lose a friend and for our church, it’s really tender ... so I don’t feel like I should talk about her yet. But yeah, I did lose a friend who did not get out in time."

She went on to say she could write out a list of 100 friends who lost everything in the fire, adding, "I feel almost guilty walking through my house. What can I do? How can I help? What can I offer? What do I have to offer with these hands and these walls and the safety that I have?"

Paris Hilton is forking over a nice chunk of change to help people impacted by the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles.

The socialite posted a message Friday to Instagram, guaranteeing she’ll donate $100,000 to support anyone who was displaced when their homes were burned to the ground. She'll also match up to an additional $100,000 from other contributors.

Furthermore, Paris says her heart is with those who not only lost their homes like she did, but also their most cherished possessions and sense of stability.

As L.A. wildfires wreak havoc, one local church is stepping up -- offering critical housing and counseling services to help those displaced, TMZ has learned.

Pastor Jeremy Johnson from Fearless Church in L.A. tells TMZ they’re opening their doors with 150 beds ready for those in need -- plus free hot meals, coffee, and shower access to help evacuees get back on their feet.

He also emphasized they’re stocked with essentials like baby food, pet supplies, and water -- along with emotional support services for those in need.

Edwin Castro -- the lucky Los Angeleno who won a $2 billion lottery jackpot in 2023 -- is the latest victim of the Pacific Palisades wildfire ... losing his Malibu house in the blaze.

A source close to the situation tells TMZ ... Castro's beachfront property was totally destroyed by the fire ... with pictures of the aftermath showing the property completely razed -- wooden foundation boards and not much else on the beach.

The house -- which he reportedly bought for $3.8 million -- sat right off the road ... a small white home with beach access, 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.