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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wildfires in the Pacific Palisades region burned down the home of “This Is Us” star Milo Ventimiglia, and perhaps most poignantly, destroyed his father’s newly installed bed.
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CBS cameras showed the actor walking through his charred home for the first time, standing in what used to be his kitchen and looking out at a devastated neighborhood. “Your heart just breaks.”
He and his pregnant wife, Jara Mariano, were evacuated Tuesday with their dog, and watched on surveillance cameras as the house caught fire, destroying everything, including a new bed.
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“There’s kind of a moment of shock where you’ll say, ‘Oh, this is real.’ This is happening. What’s the point in continuing to watch? And then at a certain point we turn it off, like, ‘What’s the point of continuing to watch?’
Firefighters sought to make gains Friday during a respite in the high winds that fanned the flames as several groups pledged aid to help victims and rebuild, including a $15 million donation pledge from The Walt Disney Co.
More stars learn that their homes are gone
While seeing the remains of his home, Ventimiglia was struck by the connection to his This Is Us character, Jack Pearson, who died after smoke inhalation in a house fire. “I do not waste my life by imitating art.”
Mandy Moore, who played Ventimiglia’s wife on This Is Us, nearly lost her home in the Eaton Fire, which consumed large areas of the Altadena neighborhood. She said on Thursday that part of her house was still standing but unlivable, and that her husband had lost his music studio and all of his musical instruments.
Mel Gibson’s agent, Alan Nierop, confirmed on Friday that Mel Gibson’s house has “completely disappeared.” The Oscar winner revealed the loss of his home earlier Friday during an appearance on The Joe Rogan Show.
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Several stars have confirmed that their homes were lost or damaged in the devastating wildfires burning in and around Los Angeles. At least 10 people have died, thousands of buildings and vehicles have been destroyed, and more than 150,000 people remain under evacuation orders.
The house that Miles Teller and his wife, Kelly, shared was a pile of dust and debris, with only the autumn bushes and gate surrounding the property remaining. Kelly posted photos of the house on Instagram before and after the wildfires, urging people to get out of the neighborhood and thanking first responders.
“We will come back stronger than ever,” she wrote. She added that she wished she had taken her wedding dress.
Billy Crystal and his wife lost their home of 45 years. Paris Hilton, Jeff Bridges, Cary Elwes and R&B star Jhene Aiko also said their homes were gone. Haley Joel Osment says he lost everything in Altadena.
“I am so sorry for the loss to thousands of people and I am trying to engrave in my mind the unique details of this beautiful city that is gone forever – thank you to everyone who reached out and who helped us lose our home,” the actor wrote on Instagram.
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Disney pledges $15 million to relief efforts
Disney says it will donate $15 million to respond to the fires and help rebuild.
The company announced the donations Friday afternoon. She said the money will be distributed to several groups, including the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
“Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with nothing but his boundless imagination, and this is where he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world. We are “We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need.”
A FIREAID charity gala is planned
A concert in aid of wildfire victims will be held at the Intuit Dome on Jan. 30, organizers announced Friday.
No lineup or ticket information has been released yet, but the event is being planned by top musicians: Shelli, Irving, and the Azoff family in collaboration with Live Nation and AEG Presents.
Organizers say the money raised will help those affected by the first fires and support efforts to prevent “future fire disasters.”
The Intuit Dome is home to the Los Angeles Clippers.
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