Meryl Streep Had To ‘Cut a Car-Size Hole’ in Fence of $4.5 Million L.A. Home To Flee Wildfires After Fallen Tree Left Her Trapped

Hollywood legend Meryl Streep was forced to take drastic action to flee the deadly California wildfires after a tree fell across the driveway of her $4.5 million Pasadena house, leaving her trapped on the property as the flames blazed toward it.

According to Streep’s nephew, Abe Streep, the 75-year-old actress faced a terrifying ordeal after being ordered to evacuate her property on Jan. 8—but she quickly came up with a unique solution to enable her escape.

“Evacuation mandates were sent across the city. My aunt Meryl Streep received an order to evacuate on January 8, but when she tried to leave, she discovered that a large tree had fallen over in her driveway, blocking her only exit,” Abe wrote in a piece for New York Magazine.

“Determined to make it out, she borrowed wire cutters from a neighbor, cut a car-size hole in the fence she shared with the neighbors on the other side, and drove through their yard to escape.”

Meryl’s home features a very long tree-lined driveway that leads to the closest road, enabling the star plenty of privacy at her dwelling, but leaving her with just one real exit from the home.

Images of the home reveal that it is surrounded by plenty of trees and foliage but is located in close proximity to her neighbors on either side, which likely allowed her to make a swift escape once the hole had been cut.

Meryl’s property—a three-bedroom, three-bathroom abode she purchased for $3.6 million in 2017—is located within an evacuation zone that was set up as a result of the Eaton fire, which broke out on the evening of Jan. 7 and quickly spread through Altadena toward Pasadena.

Fortunately, Meryl’s home was apparently undamaged in the blaze, according to LA County. The fire is reported to have killed 17 people, according to NBC News.

The actress’ midcentury modern home features 3,000 square feet of living space and is located on a two-acre plot of land. It is currently valued at upward of $4.5 million.

It was originally built in 1959 by architects Whitney Smith and Wayne Williams, and featured many of the trademark design features of that era, including high ceilings, glass walls, and a major focus on highlighting the natural surroundings of the property.

“The Devil Wears Prada” star was one of thousands of people who were displaced by the multiple wildfires that broke out in multiple areas of Los Angeles County—and destroyed more than 16,000 structures, including residential homes.

Dozens of celebrities were forced to flee their properties during the fires, with many stars losing their homes to the devastating blazes.

Meryl’s rumored love interest, actor Martin Short, also spoke to Abe about his experience of evacuating his longtime Pacific Palisades home, revealing how he gathered up a collection of family photo albums before leaving his property.

His path to safety was also marred by hurdles—with the actor, 74, revealing that it took him more than an hour to cover a distance that normally took just five minutes.

Still, Short—whose home survived the flames—says he is determined to remain in the neighborhood, telling Abe, “I will definitely stay in my home.”

However, “The Sixth Sense” star Haley Joel Osment was not so lucky, revealing to New York Magazine that his Altadena house was destroyed in the fires, along with a piano that his parents had gifted him for his 18th birthday and a collection of 500 records.

Speaking to the outlet, he raised questions about the handling of the fires, noting that he didn’t want to point blame on any party or persons, but that he was confused about how the fires had been able to destroy so many homes.

“Not to cast blame or anything, but I just want to know, when this is all investigated—was there a decision to just let the whole neighborhood go?” he questioned.