Street after street, there is little but dark ash and ruin where a wealthy seaside enclave favored by celebrities once stood.

Over 30,000 people were told to evacuate on Tuesday as a wildfire threatens homes in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.

The list of celebrities who lost their homes and neighbourhoods in the worst fire in Los Angeles history reads like a Hollywood who's who. Jamie Lee Curtis, James Woods, Mandy Moore, Mark Hamill and Maria Shriver were among those who publicly described being forced to evacuate as out-of-control fires swept across some of the most lavish real estate in the world.