As the Eaton Fire barreled through Altadena, California, Dutch Merrick, an experienced prop master and armorer, fought valiantly to save his home. For hours on Tuesday night, he doused his roof and yard with water, hoping to fend off the encroaching flames. Ultimately, a storm of embers engulfed his neighborhood, forcing Merrick to flee before sunrise on Wednesday.

While the full extent of the damage is still unknown, Merrick fears his home is lost, adding yet another layer of hardship to a tumultuous few years for entertainment workers. The COVID-19 pandemic, the dual strikes of 2023, and a subsequent slowdown in production already weighed heavily on his industry. In a bid to adapt, Merrick had ventured into new business opportunities, including a safety workshop for prop guns and a live-fire training course. But now, he believes all his materials for these endeavors have been consumed by flames. “I keep reinventing myself. And this just kicked me right in the gut,” he lamented.

Merrick is not alone in his struggles. The recent wildfires, which have scorched tens of thousands of acres in less than two days, have thrown additional obstacles in the path of L.A.’s beleaguered crew members. More than 100,000 residents have been evacuated, with over 1,000 structures—many of which housed entertainment professionals—destroyed.

Mike Miller, vice president of the major crew union IATSE, emphasized the ongoing hardships faced by the entertainment community. "So many members of the entertainment community and members of the IA have struggled since COVID, and this is just going to compound those struggles,” he said. Miller estimates that a significant portion of his union's members reside in the evacuation zones.

The blazes have been severe, with the largest fire, the Palisades Fire, starting in the luxurious Pacific Palisades neighborhood, rapidly spreading over 15,000 acres. The Eaton Fire, meanwhile, has decimated more than 10,000 acres in Altadena and Sierra Madre. Despite the wealth associated with many Hollywood stars, it is crucial to remember that countless industry workers live in vulnerable areas like Altadena, an artistic community known for its historic homes and close-knit environment. The loss of these homes is felt deeply across the community; even stars like Mandy Moore have shared their own losses on social media.

Diego Mariscal, a dolly grip and operator of the popular social media account Crew Stories, revealed that four close friends lost their homes to the wildfires; one of these was even being used as a filming location for a television series. “This really puts everyone on a level playing field,” Mariscal stated. “It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor; it takes everything.”

In response to the growing crisis, IATSE Local 80 has opened its Burbank sound stage as an emergency shelter, and the international union’s disaster response committee has activated financial assistance for affected members. However, the impact of the fires extends beyond immediate evacuations. The L.A. County Fire Department has called for all filming permits in several key areas, halting productions for shows such as ABC's *Grey's Anatomy* and NBC’s *Suits: L.A.*

Before the wildfires, L.A. had already seen a notable decrease in production days: nearly 48% for films and over 53% for television compared to its five-year average in the latter half of 2024. This slump has pushed many entertainment workers to seek more stable employment or even leave L.A. entirely.

In a bid to reignite the industry, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed an expansion of California's film and television tax credits, suggesting an increase from $330 million to $750 million annually. However, for many, the wildfires may represent a breaking point.

Mariscal predicted that the destruction could be the ultimate catalyst for some struggling workers, while others might find resilience in the face of adversity. “People will pick up and set up shop again; that’s what people do,” he stated. IATSE leader Miller is hopeful too, recognizing the strength and resilience of the crew members. "We’re going to support them, and I’m confident we’ll get through this, but it will undoubtedly add to the burden of an industry already facing significant challenges.”

The road to recovery may be long and fraught with difficulties, but the determination of L.A.’s entertainment workforce shines through, even in these dark times.