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“So Out Of Touch With Reality”: Hollywood Hills House Guarded By Private Firefighters Sparks Fury
Wealthy Los Angeles residents, including billionaire developer Rick Caruso, are facing backlash for hiring $2,000-an-hour private firefighters.
The Palisades Fire in California, USA, has engulfed parts of affluent neighborhoods, forcing thousands to evacuate, with critics accusing the rich of prioritizing their assets over community needs.
Highlights
- Wealthy LA residents faced backlash for hiring $2,000/hour private firefighters.
- Critics argued private firefighters prioritized assets over community needs.
- Billionaire Keith Wasserman's call for private crews was slammed as being "tone-deaf."
Some of the wealthiest have reportedly hired $2,000-an-hour private firefighters to save their million-dollar homes and businesses.
Among the rich controversial figures, Keith Wasserman, co-founder of real estate investment firm Gelt Venture Partners, ignited outrage.
RELATED:
Wealthy Los Angeles residents are facing backlash
Image credits: ONSCENE TV
Taking to his X page (formerly known as Twitter) on January 7, he wrote in a post that has since been deleted: “Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades?
“Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you.”
The billionaire owns a mansion in the wealthy area, as well as an upscale outdoor mall, which he has been trying to protect from raging fires, The Sun reported on Sunday (January 12).
Image credits: Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle
Social media users have consequently slammed Keith, describing his call for help as “incredibly tone-deaf.”
An X user wrote: “Incredible nerve. His family is evacuated and he’s trying to hire private firefighters to risk their lives to save a home he most certainly has insured.”
Billionaire developer Rick Caruso, who owns a mansion in the area as well as a luxury mall, has also received backlash after reportedly hiring private fire crews to protect his properties.
People like billionaire developer Rick Caruso have reportedly hired $2,000-an-hour private firefighters
Image credits: ONSCENE TV
He confirmed that he had a team of private firefighters deployed in Pacific Palisades to protect his retail space but that water was in short supply, The Sun reported.
Many subsequently claimed water was not being fairly distributed to save lives and homes, with some calling for an investigation.
“Private firefighters guard this Hollywood Hills house from #SunsetFire,” San Francisco Chronicle investigative reporter Matthias Gafni wrote on X on January 9, along with a video showing private firefighters protecting a home.
Image credits: Gelt Ventures
“They’ve set up sprinklers to cascade water from the second-story eaves. They will guard all night,” Matthias added.
Chris Dunn, owner of Covered 6, which provides the service to Hollywood’s elite, told The Daily Mail on Saturday: “My phone has been ringing off the hook.
“Demand has never been higher.”
Private firefighters guard this Hollywood Hills house from #SunsetFire. They’ve set up sprinklers to cascade water from the second story eaves. They will guard all night. pic.twitter.com/Wj9fIocM1y
— Matthias Gafni (@mgafni) January 9, 2025
Among the rich controversial figures, Keith Wasserman ignited outrage on social media
Image credits: Keith_Wasserman
Moreover, a wealthy insider expressed: “This week’s events have shown you can’t trust the city to protect your property. I have the money, so why not?”
The Palisades Fire is a large wildfire currently raging in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles, California.
The fire began this month, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds common in the region during wildfire season, which typically peaks in late summer and early autumn.
Image credits: Jay L. Clendenin
Originating in a canyon, the blaze has quickly spread over 22,000 acres, destroying homes and forcing thousands to evacuate as emergency crews work to contain it.
Officials have been investigating an electrical transmission tower in Eaton Canyon as the potential origin of the Altadena fire, though the area remains off-limits to all but investigators, The Los Angeles Times reported on Sunday.
The Altadena fire, known as the Eaton Fire, is distinct from the Palisades Fire, though both are part of the recent series of wildfires affecting the Los Angeles area.
The Eaton and Palisades fires are likely the second and fourth most destructive in California history
Image credits: Jay L. Clendenin
Image credits: Rick Caruso
Southern California Edison stated its review found no electrical anomalies or equipment issues in the hours leading up to the fire.
The Los Angeles County wildfires have killed at least 24 people, with dozens more missing, CNN reported on Monday (January 13).
“They’ve set up sprinklers to cascade water from the second-story eaves. They will guard all night,” a reporter revealed
Rick Caruso, the Businessman Who Ran Against Karen Bass for Mayor, Saved Palisades Village Mall with Private Firefighters, Water Tankers pic.twitter.com/DwUB3zLbvF
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 12, 2025
Image credits: ONSCENE TV
As the Eaton Fire razed Altadena, it reportedly killed more than a dozen neighbors — several of whom lived on the same street.
The Eaton and Palisades fires are likely the second and fourth most destructive in California history, according to Cal Fire.
“We estimate that well over 5,000 homes have been destroyed just in the Palisades,” the LA County Fire Department’s Ken Haskett said. “This is something … I haven’t seen since I was born. These are fuels that haven’t burned since the 50s.”
“If I had the money, I would do the same,” a reader commented
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What do you think ?
Jane No Dough 1 week ago
As long as they brought their own water, I'm fine with it. Think that in times of crisis like this the local government should be able to commandeer supplies and manpower of these businesses. I had to work a jillion hours as a "necessary worker" during the pandemic while family, friends and neighbors stayed safely at home collecting a bigger paycheck. These guys seem pretty necessary and should be available for all rather than a few.
Marno C. 1 week ago
Exactly what I was thinking. If the private firefighters are using public water, depleting the supply, that affects the decisions and strategies that the public firefighters have to make, possibly putting their lives and the homes of the 'poors' more at risk.
Load More Replies... Bernd Herbert 1 week ago
Funny how Americans are outraged about results of unregulated capitalism when they vote people into office that do exactly that
WonderWoman 1 week ago
The elite using public water to protect their property, meanwhile, Mexico and Canada have sent volunteers to fight the fires for everyone. When the chips are down, regular people take care and help each other, and the wealthy and republicans take care of themselves and hurt others. If only people would learn these lessons and apply them when voting or more importantly in their everyday life. Bless the helpers they truly care.
Marno C. 1 week ago
As a Canadian, thank you. I hope all the firefighters stay safe and sound.
Load More Replies...
Seán Baron 1 week ago
Not really. This is how fire services started out initially. When they started in Stuart London, if a fire crew were called out to a house and saw they were not insured with them, they’d turn around and go home. They were doing this initially during the Great Fire of London back in 1666, until they realised the fire wasn’t being brought under control and everyone helped. It was still decades much much later when fire crews would help anyone, not just who was insured with them.
Load More Replies... 
Adrian 1 week ago
I don't understand the outrage. It's not uniquely American. In fact, it's much more blatant in countries with less democratic governments.
Northlander72 1 week ago
If your main (and only) argument is that "other people in other countries are worse", then you DO understand the outrage.
Load More Replies...
deletemyaccount 1 week ago
Everyone complaining would do exactly the same thing if they had the means.
Sanfransweety 1 week ago
It's unethical. People are loosing their lives, including one man, who could not walk, and the water was shut off so his mother could not put out the flames on their 17acre home.
Jessica SpeLangm 1 week ago
The wealthy aren't any more important than us common folks. Without us common folk, they wouldn't have the money they do. They shouldn't be hijacking resources just because they have the money for it. If they want their own homes to not burn to the ground, then put out the fire yourselves, rich people. Let the firefighters take care of the majority of the population as they have been trained to do.
Liszt 1 week ago (edited)
Publice services placed in private hands, so when you transform a public safety purpose in a profit purpose, must be prohibited by laws This applies to healthcare, education, security, prisons, infrastructures... and firefighters of course Anytime you do so, you cut off a lot of people from accessing these services, so they're no more public services.
Sue User 1 week ago
So let me get this straight? Wasserman was upset about his property taxes. Those taxes would pay for more services. So the services are underfunded , so he hires private people. But guess that is just " good business".
James016 1 week ago
Yes but those taxes also benefit others and we can't have that now can we.
Load More Replies...
David Beaulieu 1 week ago
No offense, but I don't fault anyone doing everything within their power to protect their property.
The Darkest Timeline 1 week ago
I can understand the desire to protect your property and using the means you have available to do so but it isn’t really going to matter if everything else around you is destroyed. Considering all this destruction and the coming fight over insurance claims, are these areas even going to be rebuilt? More importantly, SHOULD they be rebuilt? This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what we are likely to see as natural disasters become more frequent and more intense.
Karen Krause 1 week ago
These are probably the same idiots who made sure their pools were filled during droughts. Khloe and Kim Kardshian used Around 300,000 gallons in ONE month during the drought in '22
dan gerene 1 week ago
To those think that he should be privileged due to his money should answer the Question: How would you feel if your house was on fire and the fire department had to divert to the rich guy's house down the road because his Wife's She Shed was on fire. And the fire department says as they pass you by, "You got a garden hose and a water bucket don't you?"
Galaxy87 3 days ago
They pay tax, they pay for their water just like anyone else. It would be no different to someone using their hosepipe connected to the mains supply to fight a fire. What are the public firefighters going to do, not use public water on their houses if the rich person didn't have firefighters of their own? Those public fire fighters are freed up to do other jobs, the celebrities are basically paying twice for a service. If they want to do that then that's up to them surely.
Sophia Athene 4 days ago
While the wealthy elite can hire private firefighters, the anger should start with the firefighters for hire. Somebody will hire them even if Wasserman, etc, don't. The outrage is misplaced at the rich but should be on the firefighters instead. Then you can express outrage at the secondary issue of the rich hiring them when everyone else is losing all of their property, homes, refuges
Jane No Dough 1 week ago
As long as they brought their own water, I'm fine with it. Think that in times of crisis like this the local government should be able to commandeer supplies and manpower of these businesses. I had to work a jillion hours as a "necessary worker" during the pandemic while family, friends and neighbors stayed safely at home collecting a bigger paycheck. These guys seem pretty necessary and should be available for all rather than a few.
Marno C. 1 week ago
Exactly what I was thinking. If the private firefighters are using public water, depleting the supply, that affects the decisions and strategies that the public firefighters have to make, possibly putting their lives and the homes of the 'poors' more at risk.
Load More Replies... Bernd Herbert 1 week ago
Funny how Americans are outraged about results of unregulated capitalism when they vote people into office that do exactly that
WonderWoman 1 week ago
The elite using public water to protect their property, meanwhile, Mexico and Canada have sent volunteers to fight the fires for everyone. When the chips are down, regular people take care and help each other, and the wealthy and republicans take care of themselves and hurt others. If only people would learn these lessons and apply them when voting or more importantly in their everyday life. Bless the helpers they truly care.
Marno C. 1 week ago
As a Canadian, thank you. I hope all the firefighters stay safe and sound.
Load More Replies... Seán Baron 1 week ago
Not really. This is how fire services started out initially. When they started in Stuart London, if a fire crew were called out to a house and saw they were not insured with them, they’d turn around and go home. They were doing this initially during the Great Fire of London back in 1666, until they realised the fire wasn’t being brought under control and everyone helped. It was still decades much much later when fire crews would help anyone, not just who was insured with them.
Load More Replies... Adrian 1 week ago
I don't understand the outrage. It's not uniquely American. In fact, it's much more blatant in countries with less democratic governments.
Northlander72 1 week ago
If your main (and only) argument is that "other people in other countries are worse", then you DO understand the outrage.
Load More Replies... deletemyaccount 1 week ago
Everyone complaining would do exactly the same thing if they had the means.
Sanfransweety 1 week ago
It's unethical. People are loosing their lives, including one man, who could not walk, and the water was shut off so his mother could not put out the flames on their 17acre home.
Jessica SpeLangm 1 week ago
The wealthy aren't any more important than us common folks. Without us common folk, they wouldn't have the money they do. They shouldn't be hijacking resources just because they have the money for it. If they want their own homes to not burn to the ground, then put out the fire yourselves, rich people. Let the firefighters take care of the majority of the population as they have been trained to do.
Liszt 1 week ago (edited)
Publice services placed in private hands, so when you transform a public safety purpose in a profit purpose, must be prohibited by laws This applies to healthcare, education, security, prisons, infrastructures... and firefighters of course Anytime you do so, you cut off a lot of people from accessing these services, so they're no more public services.
Sue User 1 week ago
So let me get this straight? Wasserman was upset about his property taxes. Those taxes would pay for more services. So the services are underfunded , so he hires private people. But guess that is just " good business".
James016 1 week ago
Yes but those taxes also benefit others and we can't have that now can we.
Load More Replies... David Beaulieu 1 week ago
No offense, but I don't fault anyone doing everything within their power to protect their property.
The Darkest Timeline 1 week ago
I can understand the desire to protect your property and using the means you have available to do so but it isn’t really going to matter if everything else around you is destroyed. Considering all this destruction and the coming fight over insurance claims, are these areas even going to be rebuilt? More importantly, SHOULD they be rebuilt? This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what we are likely to see as natural disasters become more frequent and more intense.
Karen Krause 1 week ago
These are probably the same idiots who made sure their pools were filled during droughts. Khloe and Kim Kardshian used Around 300,000 gallons in ONE month during the drought in '22
dan gerene 1 week ago
To those think that he should be privileged due to his money should answer the Question: How would you feel if your house was on fire and the fire department had to divert to the rich guy's house down the road because his Wife's She Shed was on fire. And the fire department says as they pass you by, "You got a garden hose and a water bucket don't you?"
Galaxy87 3 days ago
They pay tax, they pay for their water just like anyone else. It would be no different to someone using their hosepipe connected to the mains supply to fight a fire. What are the public firefighters going to do, not use public water on their houses if the rich person didn't have firefighters of their own? Those public fire fighters are freed up to do other jobs, the celebrities are basically paying twice for a service. If they want to do that then that's up to them surely.
Sophia Athene 4 days ago
While the wealthy elite can hire private firefighters, the anger should start with the firefighters for hire. Somebody will hire them even if Wasserman, etc, don't. The outrage is misplaced at the rich but should be on the firefighters instead. Then you can express outrage at the secondary issue of the rich hiring them when everyone else is losing all of their property, homes, refuges
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