The devastating fires in Los Angeles continue to cause fear and chaos. One person personally affected is Jamie Lee Curtis, 66.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday, January 8, the actress and producer grew very emotional as she spoke about the wildfire near her home.
People often have strong opinions about Hollywood and its stars, but we sometimes overlook the fact that these actors are just people, and Hollywood is their home.
The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have brought fear and heartbreak to thousands, including actress Jamie Lee Curtis, 66, who found herself personally affected by the catastrophe.
Curtis had just boarded a flight to New York City for her scheduled appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon when she learned that the flames were rapidly approaching her home in Pacific Palisades.
Though she later confirmed her house had been spared, many of her neighbors lost everything as the fire tore through their community.
”I’m literally just about to cry”
Originally, Curtis was on The Tonight Show to promote her new film, The Last Showgirl, but before discussing the project, she became overwhelmed with emotion when the topic of the fires came up.
”I’m literally just about to cry. Mostly because of that beautiful welcome,” she began, reacting to the audience’s applause. One enthusiastic fan in the crowd even shouted, ”You’re beautiful!”
Through tears, she continued, ”As you know, where I live is on fire right now. Literally, the entire city of the Pacific Palisades is burning.”
She described the moment she realized the severity of the situation: “I flew here last night. I was on the plane, started getting texts. And it’s f**ing gnarly, you guys. It’s just a catastrophe in Southern California.”
Curtis expressed her heartbreak for those affected, adding, ”Obviously, there have been horrific fires in many places. This is literally where I live. Everything. The market I shop in. The schools my kids go to. Friends, many, many, many, many, many friends now have lost their homes.”
Made a heartfelt plea
With the weight of the devastation clear in her voice, she vowed to return to L.A. as soon as possible. ”So it is — it’s a really awful situation. I am, you know, obviously going to go home first thing tomorrow and be with my family and try to help my friends.”
Curtis then made a heartfelt plea to the audience, urging them to support the American Red Cross. ”If you know anybody on the West Coast or not, the American Red Cross, support them. They will come in and help people. Do anything you can. Anything in your community to help people, whether you need it or not now, you will need it. Give blood, donate, whatever.”
As an ambassador for the American Red Cross, Curtis also took the opportunity to stress the importance of being prepared. ”Have an emergency kit with prescription glasses, medicines, dog food, baby formula, all the things you need if you have to flee.”
She later shared a heartbreaking Instagram post showing the charred remains of her beloved church in Pacific Palisades. ”This is the church in the Palisades that had a beautiful Sunday school and school and was a gorgeous house of worship and is the building that I got sober in 25 years ago,” she wrote.
Reflecting on its significance, she added, ”I think of all of the souls who came there for comfort and solace and all the baptisms and funerals and weddings and the thousands of people who reclaimed their lives through sobriety.”
Wants to be with her family
Curtis, who shares two daughters—Ruby, 25, and Annie, 34—with her husband, screenwriter Christopher Guest, reiterated her determination to return home to be with her family and help those affected. ”It’s a really awful situation,” she said. ”I am going home tomorrow to be with my family and try to help my friends.”
The fires have already claimed at least five lives, with 2,000 structures reduced to ash and thousands of residents left with nothing. The battle to contain the flames continues, as emergency responders work tirelessly to prevent further destruction in the face of dry, windy conditions.
Curtis’s emotional plea is a reminder of the power of community and the urgent need to support those affected. Let’s keep all those impacted by this disaster in our thoughts and do what we can to help.
If you’d like to support relief efforts, consider donating to the American Red Cross or other organizations working to provide aid.
