Rory Sykes, a former Australian child actor, tragically died in the Palisades wildfire earlier this week when his Malibu home was destroyed. The death toll from the fires in the area has now reached 16, according to the latest updates from the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office. Sykes’ mother, Shelley, shared the heartbreaking news of her son’s death on social media, revealing that Rory, 32, had cerebral palsy, which made walking difficult for him. At the time of his death, he was living in a cottage on his family’s 17-acre Malibu estate.
The fire, which ignited on January 7 in Pacific Palisades, has burned over 20,000 acres of land in Los Angeles and Malibu. At the moment, it is only 11% contained, and strong winds continue to hamper firefighting efforts. As of Sunday, five deaths have been attributed to the Palisades fire, though it’s unclear if Rory Sykes’ death is included in this figure. Meanwhile, another fire in Pasadena, the Eaton Fire, remains only 15% contained, having burned over 14,000 acres.
Authorities are also reporting that 13 people remain missing across Los Angeles County, though it’s uncertain if these disappearances are related to the fires. The number of fatalities is expected to rise as search efforts continue. Firefighters are working under challenging conditions, as strong Santa Ana winds have caused the fires to spread unpredictably, leaving little time for residents to evacuate. In total, around 150,000 people in Los Angeles County have been ordered to evacuate as the situation continues to unfold.
