Major fires have destroyed parts of Southern California. Two weeks after the first fire broke out on January 7th, 28 people were reported killed, tens of thousands evacuated, and thousands of buildings were destroyed.
In total, the fires have burned approximately 40,000 acres of land, with the earliest, the Palisades Fire, accounting for more than half of the destruction.
The news spread quickly, dominating headlines across media outlets worldwide.
It also drew the attention of the magic community—not only because Los Angeles is home to many magicians but also due to the direct threat nearby fires posed to The Magic Castle.
The Magic Castle is a private, exclusive club where members of The Academy of Magical Arts and their guests experience nightly performances. As the world's premier magic venue, it regularly hosts the world's best magicians, making it a beloved institution within the magic community.
Chicago-based magician Paige Thompson was one of the Castle's performers during the week of the fires. Initially, the week began as usual at the venue, but concern quickly grew. Quoting Thompson:
"Monday was great before the winds and fires began. Tuesday became a bit different feeling, with people being unsure of what to expect with the crazy winds and fires beginning. Many people in the audience were holding their phones to be prepared for whatever news was coming."
