Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has spoken out after wildfires broke out in his Los Angeles neighbourhood, with the ‘It’s Always Sunny’ creator confirming that his family are safe
Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney has assured fans that his family is safe amid the devastating wildfires near his Los Angeles home.
The star of “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” took to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to update followers on the tragic situation as the fires continue to claim lives and homes in the LA area. McElhenney, who owns Wrexham alongside Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds, expressed his shock at the extent of the damage and commended the bravery of the emergency services.
He posted: “Our family is safe. So many homes, whole neighbourhoods are just… gone. Everyone in our lives reaching out, which makes our heart so full. An astonishing amount of bravery displayed by the first responders going into to hell to help. THANK YOU.”
The Palisades Fire, currently the largest in the area, has scorched over 15,000 acres from Malibu to Santa Monica, with firefighters struggling to control its spread. According to CNN, it’s one of the most destructive fires Los Angeles has ever seen, with around 1,000 properties destroyed to date.
McElhenney, who resides in the nearby Brentwood area which is currently under evacuation due to the ongoing Palisades Fire, shares a home with his wife and It’s Always Sunny co-star Kaitlin Olson, along with their sons Axel Lee and Leo Grey. The couple, married since 2008, built their dream abode from scratch with the help of designer Kishani Perera and architect Steve Giannetti, as reported by People Magazine.
Their property includes a main house, a spacious pool house, and a guesthouse that doubles as an office space. The current state of McElhenney’s home remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the Brentwood residence of US Vice President Kamala Harris has been issued an evacuation order following a brush fire in the vicinity. Brentwood, a glamorous neighbourhood, is also home to A-list celebrities such as LA Lakers star LeBron James and Hollywood actors Ben Affleck and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
NFL legend Tom Brady, a minority owner of Wrexham’s League One promotion rivals Birmingham City, is among the approximately 35,000 residents. Located on the Westside of Los Angeles, it was once home to Joan Crawford, Steve McQueen, and Marilyn Monroe.
Median home values in the area are pegged at £1.3million ($1.62m), significantly higher than the national average of £229,108 ($281,900), according to Niche.com. The median rent in the area is a staggering £2,417 ($2,974 per month), compared to the national average of £1,030 ($1,268).
The median household income stands at £148,161 ($182,296), which is more than double the national level of £61,077 ($75,149). The community was ravaged by a large wildfire back in 1961, which wiped out nearly 500 homes in Brentwood and Bel Air.
Since that disaster, fire authorities have labelled large parts of Brentwood as a “Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.” This means the risk of brush fires is an ever-present danger in the hillsides and canyons stretching from Mulholland Drive to Sunset Boulevard.
McElhenney has been overwhelmed with support from Wrexham fans and figures associated with the club after sharing news of his family’s safety.
Eric Allyn, a New York-based investor who recently bought a minority stake in the club, said: “So glad to hear this Rob. Stay safe please.” A fan of Wrexham expressed their relief, saying: “Rob, so glad to hear that you and your family are safe. Much love and best of luck from our family here in Wrexham.”
The actor is no stranger to praise, having contributed to numerous noble causes in Wrexham, and now the town is gearing up to give back with fundraising efforts for those hit by the LA wildfires. The team at Wrexham Police FC, who swap their police badges for football boots in their downtime, plan to host a charity footie match for the cause.
Their commitment was solidified as they launched a GoFundMe campaign. The team outlined their intentions on the crowdfunding site stating: “Wrexham has a close affiliation with our friends in LA and we would like to raise money to support that those have been directly affected by the truly awful wildfires that have caused devastation and destruction to homes and wildlife. We are currently organising a charity football match that will take place next month, opposition and venue to be confirmed.”
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