A wildfire whipped up by extreme winds swept through a hillside dotted with celebrity residences, burning homes and prompting evacuations.

Southern California's Palisades Fire, fueled by a strong windstorm, has grown to 1,261 acres and prompted the city of Los Angeles to declare a state of emergency as 30,000 people have been forced to evacuate.

The Police Academy star has lived in the area for three decades and urged anyone who is ‘able-bodied’ to help where they can