Sean Penn makes controversial comparison to the devastating aftermath of the LA fires

Sean Penn compared the devastation in Los Angeles caused by ongoing fires to the damage in the Middle East, in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper Monday night.

“This has been a worst-case scenario concern of everyone in the area for a long time,” the 64-year-old actor, 64, told Cooper in an interview in Pacific Palisades, an area charred by the fire.

The Santa Monica, California resident continued, “It’s kind of like, you know, it’s Gaza up there,” in a reference to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The Milk star explained how shocking it was to see the fires spread quickly and destroy towns, even in areas where they are an annual problem.

“We know there will be wildfires in this area… so people are making a choice to live in this area,” the Mystic River star said. “But for the people who live in Pacific Palisades and Altadena and so on, in particular, this is so unexpected.”

The Oscar-winning star defended the response amid fierce criticism aimed at top officials such as California Governor Gavin Newsome and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

Firefighters continued their work in burning residential areas as wildfires wreaked havoc in LA on Monday

“Um, I don’t prescribe too much in the complaint conversations in terms of response,” the Fast Times at Ridgemont High star said. “In fact, I thank every last firefighter, we have great firefighters from Cal Fire and LA City, LA County and all those who have come in.”

“But when you have the kind of wind we had, I don’t think humanity has come up with a solution that is bigger and more powerful than us.”

The Dead Man Walking actor said it was shocking to see a long-standing community wiped out by the fires.

“It’s really something to see the whole legacy of a community,” he said. “I think about these nine-year-old kids who used to meet each other on the corner every day on their bikes, knew every corner and every shop and shop owner – and it’s all gone – and so it’s more personal in that sense.

‘I am very, very immediately familiar. I don’t need to become more familiar with this area; so many people we all know and care about have lost their homes.”

Amid Monday night’s death toll at the age of 24, the I Am Sam actor said he was grateful there were no casualties in line with the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, where the estimated death toll was around 220,000 people, according to the United Nations.

“Thank God not, you know, the number of lives lost like in Port-au-Prince,” said the actor, who was involved in the relief efforts 15 years ago.

Penn also talks about his nonprofit’s efforts CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) These were created in the wake of the fires, including distributing cash vouchers, N95 masks and hygiene kits to those in need.

The Academy Award-winning actor talks to Cooper in an interview Monday in Pacific Palisades, an area charred by the fire

Amid Monday night’s death toll at age 24, Penn said he was grateful there were no casualties in line with the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, where the estimated death toll was about 220,000 people.

“We were on site on the first day working in the main shelter at the Pasadena Civic Center to meet immediate needs,” Penn said, “which will be primarily cash assistance, which there are two types of categories there: those who can apply and needs navigation in the application.

‘And then there are people who, for various reasons, do not have a citizen service number, on which we can then invest part of our money.’

He added: ‘You only have to close your eyes slowly to think about what it would mean if suddenly everything were gone.

“Along with of course the emotional trauma of it, so the money is a necessary freedom to just get from day to day.”

Penn also talks about the efforts his nonprofit CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) has made in the wake of the fires

Officials said Monday that the death toll had reached at least 24 people, according to the APadding that the total number of casualties was expected to increase due to the ongoing search for missing persons.

Officials said Monday that the Palisades fire was 11 percent contained, while the Eaton fire was 27 percent contained, after decimating an estimated area of ​​about 60 square miles.

The National Weather Service said in red flag warnings that winds of 50 mph will continue to worsen conditions Monday through Wednesday, with an expected peak on Tuesday.

On Monday, President Joe Biden urged Congress to “act” and set aside the tens of billions of dollars needed to rebuild stricken areas. He said the federal government plans to pay the costs over the next 180 days.

The president said at the White House that firefighters and first responders were “the angels” amid efforts to extinguish the fires, while Vice President Kamala Harris said the aftermath of the fires was “truly heartbreaking.”