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Jay Leno on Wildfire Destruction: ‘We’ll Get Through It. We Always Do’

A large plume of smoke rising from a forest
Photo by Daniel Lincoln

Jay Leno on Wildfire Destruction: ‘We’ll Get Through It. We Always Do’

By Movieguide® Contributor

Jay Leno is reflecting on the widespread destruction left by the Palisades wildfire and giving his thoughts on when the area might go back to normal. 

“You know, it’s unbelievable,” the Palisades resident told Anderson Cooper. “It’s the biggest natural disaster — not that 9/11 was a natural disaster — but it’s literally on that scale. I mean it’s 10,000 buildings. If you drove all day you couldn’t see 10,000 buildings.”

Leno continued, “I mean, you get on that hill and you look for miles, and there’s nothing. It looks like Hiroshima or just some horrible thing. It’s an entire city wiped out.”

He also shared his prediction for how the Pacific Palisades will look in the next few years — “I mean, Pacific Palisades, it doesn’t exist and probably won’t exist for the next five, six years. I don’t know how you rebuild from this.”

“We’ll get through it,” Leno finished. “We always do.”

READ MORE: MAJOR STUDIOS PLEDGE CONSIDERABLE DONATIONS TO FIRE RELIEF

Like many celebrities, Leno pitched in to aid relief efforts. The car-lover served meals to first responders out of a 1941 American LaFrance fire truck.

“It’s good to have your own fire truck if you live in L.A.,” Leno joked

The former late-night host also reflected on the “sense of community” that he’s been seeing as people rally together and help start the recovery process. 

“It’s a shame it has to come to that. The last time I remember was 9/11. We all got together and for three or four days, everybody put aside their political beliefs and who’s on your lawn on a sign, and all that nonsense,” Leno said. “It’s happening here today. I mean, it’s a shame, that’s what it takes.”

Leno isn’t the only famous face who has been lending a helping hand. Jennifer Garner, another Palisades resident, has been volunteering with World Central Kitchen, serving meals to first responders and people affected by the fires. 

“Well, first of all zero percent of it is about me because I have my home and I am safe,” Garner told Katie Couric in a recent interview. “I’m not a spokesperson for people who’ve gone through this. But it’s pretty devastating to witness, obviously. I think everyone is in shock, honestly, Katie. I just think that it hasn’t even begun to hit us.”

READ MORE: ‘WE STAND WITH YOU’: CELEBS DONATE AND VOLUNTEER AMID DEVASTATING LA WILDFIRES


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