L.A. Wildfires Topanga Resident Says Suspicious Hiker Was Arrested
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The suspicious hiker who gave some bizarre answers to a concerned Topanga resident was questioned and arrested by police ... at least according to the guy who confronted him.

We tracked down the Topanga man who recorded his interaction with the hiker and he joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday ... telling us the guy stuck out like a sore thumb and raised a ton of red flags.
The resident says his community is pretty tight-knit, so they know everyone ... and this guy was clearly not a local.
Los Angeles Wildfires Flames Rage as High Winds Return ... 40K Acres Burned, 25 Dead, Schools Destroyed
The Los Angeles wildfires have left thousands of people displaced, businesses charred, and entire neighborhoods obliterated ... and they're not even fully contained yet.
According to the latest updates ... the highest red flag level of high winds and fire conditions, labeled a “Particularly Dangerous Situation,” was declared by the National Weather Service Wednesday.
The Palisades Fire, which has destroyed massive chunks of the famed coastal community, currently stands at 19% containment -- after burning nearly 24,000 acres.
L.A. Wildfires Topanga Resident Confronts Suspicious Hiker ... Cops Investigating
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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 This Ain't Texas, But I Got You L.A. ... Donating $2.5M to Wildfire Relief
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."
Gov. Gavin Newsom Elon, You've Been Exposed As A Liar!!! Over Water Shortage Misinformation

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?"
'Family Ties' Star Justine Bateman Hey, Harry And Meghan ... You're Just Ambulance Chasers
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."
Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive "photo op" they achieved. They are "touring the damage"? Are they politicians now? They don't live here; they are tourists.
— Justine Bateman (@JustineBateman) January 12, 2025 @JustineBateman
Disaster Tourists. #PalisadesFire https://t.co/Kv6v6jSX4y
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 home burns down in los angeles wildfire
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 Discharged From Hospital, Has to Evacuate Home
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.
Azusa Police Arrest Arson Suspect ... Claim He Started Brush Fire
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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.
L.A. Wildfires Former Child Actor Among the Dead ... Mom Shares Devastating Final Moments
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 & Amy Robach David Muir Probably Poked & Prodded On-Air ... Might Not Have Known About Clothespin!!!
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 Worried About Loved Ones ... Donations For L.A. Fire Victims Coming

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.
L.A. Wildfires Auntie Em, It's a Firenado!!! Weather Phenomenon Twists in Palisades Blaze

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.
Khloé Kardashian Mayor Bass, You're a Joke!!! Calls Out Her Honor Over Wildfires
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 I Have Survivor's Guilt ... My House is Still Standing, Unlike My Friends

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 I'm Starting Emergency Fund For L.A. Wildfire Victims
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.
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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.