California wildfires: 'This Is Us' star Milo Ventimiglia loses home days before wife is set to give birth
The 'Gilmore Girls' actor is expecting his first child with wife, Jarah Mariano
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Milo Ventimiglio is mourning the loss of his Malibu home - a safe space he and his pregnant wife, Jarah Mariano, were expecting to introduce their new baby to in just a few days.
During an interview with CBS News, the "This Is Us" actor, 47, opened up about the "heavy" reality that has hit his family due to the Los Angeles wildfires.
"You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and what not, and then you see your neighbors' houses and everything kind of around and your heart just breaks," a visibly upset Ventimiglia said while walking through the rubble of what is left of his home.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Milo Ventimiglia evacuated his Malibu home on Tuesday. (Getty Images)
Ventimiglia, who evacuated on Tuesday, revealed he and his wife watched their home burn to the ground through their security cameras.
"I think there's a shock moment where you go, 'Is this real and is this happening?' At a certain point we just turned it off. We accepted the loss."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}With Mariano set to give birth any day now, Ventimiglia revealed the baby's nursery was complete.
"The whole thing was set up," he said.
Ventimiglia, whose character Jack Pearson died of smoke inhalation after his home burned down in "This Is Us," said he is fully aware of the irony.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}ESSENTIAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR LOS ANGELES-AREA RESIDENTS AND HOW YOU CAN HELP THEM
The "This Is Us" star's wife is set to give birth to their first child in a few days. (Getty Images)
"It's not lost on me, life imitating art," he said.
While the couple prepare to become parents and adjust to their new normal, Ventimiglia said he is grateful.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We got good friends, and we got good people we're working with, and we'll make do. Wife and baby and dog, most important," Ventimiglia said.
Ventimiglia is one of many celebrities who have lost their homes due to the raging wildfires.
"Jurassic World" star Daniella Pineda shared that she also lost her home and was only able to escape with her dog and her laptop.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Daniella Pineda lost her home in the wildfires. (Getty Images)
"This was the first house that I ever bought," she wrote on Instagram. "My very first. The fire broke out so fast all I could grab was my dog and my laptop and that was it. I lost everything else. I have 1 pair of shoes to my name. I’m happy to be alive. Grateful to be alive. People really show up for one another when disaster hits. Thank you to everyone who offered to help me."
APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE INSTAGRAM POST
"This may seem silly to some, but I had two Beta fish that I absolutely loved. Always made sure their temp was just right, spoiled them, played with them. Loved them. They were precious and brought me joy everyday. Things are things, they are meaningless. Living creatures, humans, our environment, this is what matters."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cameron Mathison said his neighborhood "looked like a war zone." (Getty Images; Cameron Mathison/Instagram)
"All My Children" star Cameron Mathison revealed he left behind some "valuable" items when he evacuated his home due to the Eaton Fire. The actor only grabbed passports, birth certificates and photo albums because he "didn't really believe" he would lose the home.
"I unfortunately left some valuable ones where the kids were very, very young and film that you can't replace," Mathison told Entertainment Tonight. "If I really thought the house was going down, I would've grabbed so much more."
Mathison and his wife evacuated to Pasadena, where they learned their home didn't make it.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"[Vanessa] woke me up at 5 in the morning, because she'd been up pretty much all night and watched the news and heard that the street above our street.... the reporters were literally on our block on TV," Cameron recalled. "We're sitting on the couch, watching the news, recognizing the houses around our house burned down, but I couldn't see our house."
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Cameron Mathison and his wife Vanessa Arevalo have two children together; Leila Emmanuelle Mathison and Lucas Arthur Mathison seen here in 2019. (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
"I just was sitting there, it was probably 6 in the morning, and I had to go up there," he continued, saying he bought a mask and protective glasses before going into his neighborhood. "It looked like a war zone."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mathison revealed he realized his home "was all gone" when he arrived. "It was really, really decimated. There's nothing there. Less than nothing. It's just all burnt to just ashes."
Other stars, including Anna Faris, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, John Goodman, and Paris Hilton, have also lost their homes.
Hilton shared an update on Instagram Thursday as she visited the spot where her home once stood.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE INSTAGRAM POST
"I’m standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable," Hilton captioned a video of the devastation. "When I first saw the news, I was in complete shock – I couldn’t process it. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces. This house wasn’t just a place to live – It was where we dreamed, laughed, and created the most beautiful memories as a family. It was where Phoenix’s little hands made art that I’ll cherish forever, where love and life filled every corner. To see it reduced to ashes… it’s devastating beyond words."
Paris Hilton says seeing her home "reduced to ashes…it's devastating beyond words." (John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images)
"What breaks my heart even more is knowing that this isn’t just my story," she continued, in part. "So many people have lost everything. It’s not just walls and roofs – it’s the memories that made those houses homes. It’s the photos, the keepsakes, the irreplaceable pieces of our lives. And yet, in this pain, I know I’m incredibly lucky. My loved ones, my babies, and my pets are safe. That’s the most important thing, and I’m holding onto that gratitude with everything I have. And beyond grateful to all the firefighters, first responders and volunteers risking their lives to fight these fires."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In a statement to Fox News Digital, Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice Crystal, said they are experiencing complete devastation.
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
"Words cannot describe the enormity of the devastation we are witnessing and experiencing," the couple said in a joint statement. "We ache for our friends and neighbors who have also lost their homes and businesses in this tragedy. Janice and I lived in our home since 1979. We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can't be taken away. We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Billy Crystal and his wife Janice also lost their home. (Getty Images)
Ricki Lake, who lost her home to the Palisades fire on Jan. 7, revealed the timeline that led to their safe evacuation.
"11:24 am early signs of smoke in Temescal Canyon 11:54 am setting up our fire defense system 4:10 pm Ross hosing down our neighbors palm tree (baller move) 6:17 pm Ross attempting to siphon gas for the fire defense system motor. (Even bigger baller move, though it didn’t work.) 6:55 do we stay or do we go?"
APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE INSTAGRAM POST
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Ricki Lake and her husband Ross Burningham made efforts to save their home from the fire. (Getty Images)
"We finally surrendered our efforts and left our home at 8:02 pm … No doubt had we stayed, we would not have survived. Sharing for all who have been asking. Thank you for the love and well wishes. Again, please pray for those impacted by this catastrophic event and help if you are able. Bless our brave firefighters and first responders. May they stay safe."
APP USERS CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE INSTAGRAM POST
Jessica Simpson and her family evacuated their home yesterday. She shared a photo of smoke near her house on her Instagram story, writing "We stayed as long as we could.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jessica Simpson told followers that she and her family evacuated their home Thursday. (Jessica Simpson/Instagram)
Britney Spears evacuated last night as well, writing in an Instagram post, "I had to evacuate my home and I’m driving 4 hours to a hotel !!!"
Her message was shared along with a video that showcased doll shoes. She explained, "I’m posting these adorable shoes to lift people’s spirits !!! Most people may not even be on their phones !!! I wasn’t the past two days because I had no electricity to charge and I just got my phone back !!! I pray you’re all doing well and I send my love."
Britney Spears shared that she had to evacuate her home Thursday. (Todd Williamson)
As of Thursday, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone announced that the Eaton and Palisades wildfires are 0% contained. The Eaton Fire has spread to 10,600 acres, and the Palisades Fire has reached 17,234 acres.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Another wildfire in Acton has been 40% contained, Marrone said. That blaze was limited to just 348 acres.
Firefighters have also successfully stopped the forward progress of the Sunset Fire in the Hollywood Hills, officials said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom contributed to this post.