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MALIBU (CNS) - The Woolsey Fire that has burned more than 91,500 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and destroyed at least 370 structures has claimed the homes of several celebrities, along with the historic Paramount Ranch, where a long list of movies and television shows have been filmed since 1927.
The ranch -- which served as a location for shows such as “M-A-S-H,” “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” and most recently, HBO's “Westworld” -- was destroyed save for a chapel, according to the National Park Service, which operates the site.
Hollywood historian Cari Beauchamp said, “This is an incredible loss that we haven't even begun to put our head around yet.”
The trees and beautiful natural setting at the ranch and the vast mountainscape of the “M-A-S-H” TV set in the Malibu Creek State Park have been featured in many movies and TV shows.
“Those incredible oak trees were hundreds of years old,” Beauchamp said. “Any film made between 1927 and 1953 in which there's a Wells Fargo buggy going by, well, those trees are going to be in the background. My God, you could see how they'd be so attractive, and the chaparral, that loss pains me as much as any set destruction.”
The Peter Strauss Ranch, a regional park in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, burned down, leaving only a few walls and a chimney. Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson were among the celebrities to perform at the ranch.
The mansion used for ABC's “The Bachelor” escaped total destruction, but the fire did burn the lower house and other outdoor structures. No one was at the location at the time with the current cast filming abroad, network officials said.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, at least a couple of drug- treatment centers, including Seasons and Creative Care, have lost buildings.
Some celebrities lost their homes, including singers Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke and Neil Young, actors Gerard Butler and Shannen Doherty, and `Dr. Strange` director Scott Derrickson.
Cyrus tweeted that she was `completely devastated` and considered herself `one of the lucky ones.' She added: 'My animals and LOVE OF MY LIFE made it out safely & that's all that matters right now. My house no longer stands but the memories shared with family & friends stand strong. I am grateful for all I have left. Sending so much love and gratitude to the firefighters and LA country Sheriff's department!'
Young posted on his website that “California is a paradise for us all. We are sad not to be able to defend it against Mother Nature`s wrath.”
Butler tweeted a photo of himself in front of his house, writing “Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California. Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters. Thank you LAFD. If you can, support these brave men and women at http://SupportLAFD.org .that had been completely destroyed by fire.”
Actress Shannen Doherty mourned the loss of the house in which she got married in 2011. “It's the place I felt my dad with me. It's gone. Fire has taken it away,” Doherty posted to Instagram. “I'm devastated by all that's happening. My heart is ripped apart.”
Derrickson tweeted on Friday, “We lost our home, but we are all safe and that's the important thing.”
Fox Sports' Eric Wynalda tweeted “Gonna be offline for awhile. Gone. Brutal. Watched it burn on live TV.”
Camille Grammer, the former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member and ex-wife of Kelsey Grammer, posted a photo of the house with its roof in flames on Instagram and thanked firefighters.
“Sadly my house couldn't be saved,” she wrote. “The courageous firefighters were able to save my cars and personal items recovered from my home. I thanked the fire captain and his team of firemen for all of their hard work.”
“The Young and the Restless” actress Tracey Bregman posted pictures of her home on fire and said, “Last picture of my house. Thank God we are all safe. I have no other words. I'm just numb for us all.”
Caitlyn Jenner's Malibu home survived the fire despite the raging blaze coming very close to her estate. She posted a video on Instagram Sunday night and said “It was devastating out here in Malibu. You can see the hills are just totally scorched.”
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West hired private firefighters to save their $60 million mansion and neighboring homes. According to TMZ, the couple is being praised by neighbors in their Hidden Hills neighborhood for hiring firefighters who dug trenches and kept the fire away from their homes.
The couple`s home is located in a cul-de-sac adjacent to a field that could have threatened the rest of the block. On Friday, the fire had reached their backyard.
On Saturday, Khloe Kardashian bought supplies for firefighters from CVS.
On Sunday, Lady Gaga visited an American Red Cross shelter in Pacific Palisades and provided encouragement to evacuees and volunteers.
In a TMZ video, she said, “I know this is not easy” and encouraged people to talk to mental health workers on site.
“I know that a lot of you are feeling a lot of pain right now, and a lot of shock,” she said. “I feel kind of in a daze, and I'm not really sure when or how this is going to hit me.”
Lady Gaga also tweeted, “I am thinking so deeply for everyone who is suffering today from these abominable fires & grieving the loss of their homes or loved ones. I'm sitting here with many of you wondering if my home will burst into flames. All we can do is pray together & for each other. God Bless You.”
On Saturday, Kendra Wilkinson thanked her ex-husband Hank Baskett for helping put out fires around Calabasas. “He saved many homes without the people probably even knowing. Great job Hank!” she tweeted. Rob Lowe shared that his sons and nephews helped assist evacuations and bring food to firefighters.
Many celebrities evacuated their homes, including Oscar-wining director Guillermo del Toro, “Lord of the Rings” star Orlando Bloom, reality TV star Kim Kardashian West, actors Alyssa Milano, Rainn Wilson and Mark Hamill, singers Cher, Melissa Etheridge and Lady Gaga, and MGM TV chairman Mark Burnett and his wife, producer-actress Roma Downey.
Actress Tori Spelling was grateful for Jennie Garth, her good friend and former Beverly Hills, 90210 costar, who opened her home to Spelling and her family after they were forced to evacuate.
Del Toro tweeted that he drove back to his house on Friday to `retrieve my notebooks and a small suitcase with 2 photos, 5 books and few small things.'
Milano was one of many celebrities who have tweeted, saying “Horses are finally safe. My children are safe. My home is in jeopardy but... everything with a heartbeat is safe. Thank you all for your concern.”
Cher, who has had a home in Malibu since 1972, said some of her friend's homes had been destroyed and worried about what would be left standing when the fire ended.
“I'm worried about my house but there is nothing I can do,` the iconic singer posted to Twitter. `I can't bear the thought of there being no Malibu.”
Actor Will Smith and his family left on Friday before his home was part of the mandatory evacuation area, tweeting: “I don't like it, so we're gonna go.”
Actor Martin Sheen and his wife, Janet, were said to be safe after their son, actor Charlie Sheen, tweeted on Friday that he couldn't locate them. A local news crew later found the elder Sheen on the beach where many local evacuees had gathered.
Celebrity giraffe Stanley, who lives at a Malibu winery popular for its `safari` tours, was reported safe. Rumors that Stanley, whose Instagram account has more than 46,000 followers and whose fans include Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian, had been left behind spurred a thread of angry comments on social media. However, Malibu Wines' management team posted a picture of Stanley safe Friday night, telling worried fans that `animal trainers are onsite right now feeding, providing water, repairing enclosures.”
Photo: Getty Images