Stars including Billie Eilish, Pink, Katy Perry, Nirvana and Dr Dre performed at FireAid on Thursday, a benefit concert in Los Angeles to help the area recover from two of the largest fires in its history.

More than 20 artists from various genres took to the stage for the five-hour show, which is happening simultaneously at two large venues in the city and raising money for wildfire relief efforts.

Actor Billy Crystal welcomed the crowd at the Kia forum, wearing clothes he had on when he escaped the Pacific Palisades fire earlier this month.

“You’ll be hearing from a number of people who were tragically affected by these fires, and I was one of them,” Crystal said as he opened the show.

He had lived in the area for 46 years and spoke poignantly about losing his home.

Shortly after the show began at the Kia Forum, a second concert also kicked off at the Intuit Dome, with the online stream switching between the two venues. Many of the artists who performed are from or based in Los Angeles.

California native Katy Perry waved the state’s flag as she performed hits such as California Gurls.

Other stars taking to the stage included No Doubt, from Orange County, and Dr Dre, who performed his anthem California Love.

“This is a magical moment for me. I’ve got so much love, you guys… I appreciate all the first responders and all the firemen who put their lives on the line. It’s all about love for me today,” the rapper said.

Eilish duetted with rock band Green Day, whose frontman Billie Joe Armstrong told the crowd: “California, Los Angeles, Altadena, the Palisades – we are in this together.”

The remaining members of 90s rock band Nirvana, Dave Grohl, Pat Smear and Krist Novoselic also reunited with a series of guest female vocalists such as St Vincent and Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon.

Other stars appearing at the two shows include Olivia Rodrigo, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Joni Mitchell, Lady Gaga, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, Sting, Stevie Nicks and Tate McRae.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris was one of the famous faces spotted in the crowd at the Intuit Dome.

Proceeds from the concert and donations during the show will go toward rebuilding communities and preventing future fires in the region.

At least 28 people died and more than 16,000 homes and businesses were destroyed in the fast-spreading, destructive fires that broke out in early January.

Viewers will be able to donate money to relief efforts during the show, either by text message or by visiting FireAidLA.org.

Donations will be overseen by the Annenberg Foundation, focusing on both short-term relief efforts and long-term fire prevention projects.

Additionally, Connie and Steve Ballmer – who own the LA Clippers basketball team, as well as the Intuit Dome and Forum – will match all donations made during the broadcast.

The Palisades and Eaton fires became the largest fires ever seen in the LA area earlier this month. Both erupted on 7 January as the region saw a strong wind event, making the small blazes in brushy, mountainous areas hard to contain.

Embers travelled miles, igniting whole communities and levelling neighbourhoods.

Nearly 7,000 structures were levelled in the Palisades fire in northwest LA. Another 9,400 were destroyed in the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles County. The fires also claimed a number of victims.