Former child actor Rory Sykes killed in LA wildfires after ‘water ran out’ & helpless mum watched house burn to ground
A FORMER Aussie child actor has tragically been killed in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
Brit-born Rory Callum Sykes, 32, was left trapped inside a self-contained cottage in Malibu after it caught fire from flying embers.
Skyes’ death was confirmed by his mum Shelley who said he was a “wonderful” son.
Shelley said she tried to put out the embers that landed on the roof of the 17-acre property with a hose but the water supply was turned off.
She was forced to drive a quarter mile to find first responders after she failed to connect through 911.
Firefighters told her that Skyes died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
The heartbroken mum wrote told 10 News: “I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off.
“When the fire department brought me back, his cottage was burnt to the ground. He will be incredibly missed.”
Skyes was born blind and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
“He overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn how to walk,” the mum said.
He was a former child actor and hosted the British RTV Show Kiddy Kapers in 1998, NewsAU reports.
Skyes’ tragic death is not part of the official death toll caused by the raging wildfires in LA, the New York Post reports.
So far, at least 11 other people have died and thousands of homes have been destroyed.
Out-of-control flames have been tearing through neighborhoods for days as fierce winds threaten to fuel the towering infernos.
Palisades – the largest fire of all six currently burning – has destroyed more than 5,000 homes and structures in its path.
A bushfire is said to have started the wildfire in the Palisades on Tuesday, which had grown to more than 15,000 acres by the next morning.
Latest updates on the devastating LA fires:
- Palisades: At least 21,596 acres, 8% contained
- Eaton: At least 14,117 acres, 3% contained
- Kenneth: At least 1,052 acres, 50% contained
- Hurst: At least 771 acres, 70% contained
- Lidia: At least 395 acres, 98% contained
- Archer: At least 19 acres, 0% contained
So far, the devastating fire has burned down more than 21,000 acres and thousands of homes businesses and other iconic landmarks in LA.
Authorities have now turned previous evacuation warnings into mandatory orders, urging people to leave the area from Sunset Boulevard north to Encino Reservoir.
So far, only eight per cent of the Palisades fire has been contained.
Other fires in the region include the SunSet Fire, which is ravaging Hollywood Hills.
Kenneth Fire, another raging inferno, has sparked mass evacuations in Calabasas and Hidden Hills.
It is being investigated as arson – with one suspect arrested.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said areas of the city “look like a bomb was dropped in them” – branding the fires a “crisis”.
The devastating fires are set to have a costly impact on the city and its residents – with private forecaster Accuweather estimating the total damage and economic loss up to $150 billion.
Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed over 1,400 firefighters, with additional teams arriving from neighbouring states, but the battle to contain the flames is far from over.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance in Los Angeles to meet the victims of the devasting wildfires.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also served food and donated toys and essential supplies to the victims outside the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena.
Meanwhile, satellite pictures have revealed whole blocks of homes in Los Angeles have been burned to rubble by the wildfires.
The wind-fuelled flames haven’t spared the homes of the rich and famous with Hollywood A-listers tragically seeing their houses turned to smouldering rubble.
This includes supermodel Bella Hadid, Spencer Pratt and Oscar winner Mel Gibson.
Other celebrities like Tom Hanks, 68, and Steven Spielberg, 78, had their homes narrowly spared in the fires.
Mandy Moore told trolls to “F*** off” after asking for donations to help her relatives who lost their home in the LA wildfires.
The This Is Us star hit back online after facing backlash for sharing a GoFundMe campaign for her brother-in-law and sister-in-law.
'War zone' LA feels 'broken' as fires still ravage the city - but we will rebuild
EVERY year Los Angeles braces itself for wildfires. It is not uncommon to see flames torching the hills and even houses burning to the ground.
But many residents have never witnessed anything as devastating as this week. And it’s nowhere near over.
I spent time near Pacific Palisades, where thick smoke filled the air, and saw desperate families fleeing the city while others begged police to give them access to their properties as roads were blocked off.
“Everything is gone” was heard many times, as thousands of people were left homeless and with few possessions.
I was lucky to only have the power go out in my home, but I’ll never forget what I witnessed traveling throughout the city.
It was like a war zone.
During a visit to a shelter, I spoke with a resident who has lived in his home for almost 30 years and is battling cancer. He stayed long after he was told to pack up and go.
It was only when flames began leaping around his building that he finally gathered his belongings and ran out.
I reported from Altadena, where buildings were still engulfed in flames, and few fire trucks were in sight as emergency services were overwhelmed.
Cars and school buses were completely torched, and heartbroken families stood around in shock, not being able to process what had happened.
As the sun went down, I drove back home towards the city center, which I felt was safe, until I saw orange flames leaping behind buildings just minutes from my house.
I felt sick. I’ve never known wildfires so close to Hollywood, and suddenly, phones were blaring with emergency notifications to evacuate the area.
Traffic lights and street lamps were out, and areas filled with fallen trees from the strong winds became gridlocked.
I feel extremely lucky I live minutes outside of the evacuation zone, but friends panicked and fled their homes.
Although many worldwide will merely shrug when they hear wealthy people have lost their homes, the reality is very different.
The city as a whole feels broken, everyone from single mothers to elderly people have been through hell.
And people are angry.
Dozens have spoken of their insurance policies being canceled just months before the fires, while others are reeling over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
They may be angry. But they are also hopeful. The people of Los Angeles are made of strong stuff.
We will get through this. And we will rebuild.