Production in Los Angeles came to an abrupt halt on Wednesday as devastating wildfires continue to ravage neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and Sylmar. The fires, which have burned thousands of acres, prompted local authorities to withdraw filming permits and restrict activity in affected areas.
FilmLA Suspends Permits in Fire Zones
FilmLA, the agency responsible for issuing permits in Los Angeles, released a statement confirming the suspension of permits in critical areas. “The LA County Fire Department has specifically instructed that all permits issued for filming in the communities of Altadena, La Crescenta, La Cañada Flintridge, and unincorporated Pasadena are withdrawn,” the statement read.
The agency also warned that additional permit revocations could follow, citing a strain on personnel resources during the declared local State of Emergency.
Though soundstages remain operational, hazardous air quality has made outdoor production unsafe. Residents have been advised to avoid non-essential travel in fire-affected regions.
Major Productions Affected
Several studios have paused filming or canceled shoots altogether:
NBCUniversal has halted production on shows such as Hacks, Loot, Ted, Suits: L.A., and Happy’s Place starring Reba McEntire. No feature films under NBCU are affected as they are being shot outside Los Angeles.
Amazon Studios postponed season 2 of Fallout, which was scheduled to film in Santa Clarita, pushing production back to Friday.
CBS Studios suspended multiple productions for the week, including NCIS, NCIS: Origins, Poppa’s House, The Neighborhood, and Taylor Tomlinson’s After Midnight.
Disney-20th Television shut down production on Doctor Odyssey, Grey’s Anatomy, and Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Warner Bros. closed its Burbank lot due to the proximity of the fires, impacting productions such as Abbott Elementary, All-American, The Pitt, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, and a Leanne Morgan project that was in pre-production.
Event Cancellations
In addition to production delays, several high-profile events have been postponed or canceled:
- The premieres of Unstoppable and Wolf Man.
- The AFI Awards luncheon.
- The BAFTA Tea Party.
- The Critics Choice Awards.
The Fires’ Devastating Impact
The fires have caused widespread destruction since they ignited on Tuesday morning. More than 10,000 acres have burned in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroying hundreds of structures. The Altadena fire, north of Pasadena, has also consumed over 10,000 acres and tragically claimed two lives.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as firefighters work to contain the wildfires. Meanwhile, the entertainment industry faces uncertainty as production schedules remain in limbo. For now, safety remains the priority as Los Angeles grapples with this ongoing crisis.
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