Heartbreaking moment Jennifer Garner reveals her friend died in devastating LA wildfires as death toll hits 11
JENNIFER Garner fought back her tears as she spoke about her friend who tragically died in the devastating LA wildfires.
The Golden Globe award winner, 52, emotionally revealed her friend “didn’t get out on time”.
Garner was seen working with the World Central Kitchen and feeding the survivors of the Palisades fire – the biggest inferno in LA‘s history.
She has lived around the Pacific Palisades area for 25 years.
Speaking to MSNBC, the actress revealed she lost a friend from her local church and described the feeling as “really tender”.
A teary Garner said: “I did lose a friend. And for our church, it’s really tender.
“So, I don’t feel like I should talk about her yet.
“But yeah, I did lose a friend who did not get out on time.”
Speaking about the victims of the raging wildfires that have wrought havoc in LA, Garner added: “My heart bleeds for all my friends.
“I can think of a hundred families and there are 5,000 homes lost. Without even thinking, I can write out a list of a hundred friends who lost their homes.
“I feel almost guilty walking through my house just, you know, what can I do? How can I help? What can I offer?”
The actress also revealed that the Methodist church she used to visit every Sunday burned down to the ground.
She said: “It’s my family‘s church. It’s where my kids went to Sunday school.
“We lit the Advent candle together there a couple of weeks ago. We watched the little kids perform. It’s a preschool. It’s a central part of our community.”
It comes after ex-husband Ben Affleck rushed to her Brentwood home after he was forced to evacuate his mansion amid fears of fire.
Raging wildfires have through Los Angeles – killing 11 people and destroying 10,000 homes.
Out-of-control flames have been tearing through neighborhoods for days as fierce winds threaten to fuel the towering infernos.
Palisades – the largest fire of all six currently burning – has destroyed more than 5,000 homes and structures in its path.
A bushfire is said to have started the wildfire in the Palisades on Tuesday, which had grown to more than 15,000 acres by the next morning.
So far, the devastating fire has burned down more than 21,000 acres and thousands of homes businesses and other iconic landmarks in LA.
Latest updates on the devastating LA fires:
- Palisades: At least 21,596 acres, 8% contained
- Eaton: At least 14,117 acres, 3% contained
- Kenneth: At least 1,052 acres, 50% contained
- Hurst: At least 771 acres, 70% contained
- Lidia: At least 395 acres, 98% contained
- Archer: At least 19 acres, 0% contained
Authorities have now turned previous evacuation warnings into mandatory orders, urging people to leave the area from Sunset Boulevard north to Encino Reservoir.
So far, only eight per cent of the Palisades fire has been contained.
Other fires in the region include the SunSet Fire, which is ravaging Hollywood Hills.
Kenneth Fire, another raging inferno, has sparked mass evacuations in Calabasas and Hidden Hills.
It is being investigated as arson – with one suspect arrested.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said areas of the city “look like a bomb was dropped in them” – branding the fires a “crisis”.
The devastating fires are set to have a costly impact on the city and its residents – with private forecaster Accuweather estimating the total damage and economic loss up to $150 billion.
Governor Gavin Newsom has deployed over 1,400 firefighters, with additional teams arriving from neighbouring states, but the battle to contain the flames is far from over.
Satellite pictures have revealed whole blocks of homes in Los Angeles have been burned to rubble by the wildfires.
The wind-fuelled flames haven’t spared the homes of the rich and famous with Hollywood A-listers tragically seeing their houses turned to smouldering rubble.
This includes supermodel Bella Hadid, Spencer Pratt and Oscar winner Mel Gibson.
Other celebrities like Tom Hanks, 68, and Steven Spielberg, 78, had their homes narrowly spared in the fires.
A former Aussie child actor was tragically killed in the devastating wildfires after his mum failed to save him due to water shortage.
Brit-born Rory Callum Sykes, 32, was left trapped inside a self-contained cottage in Malibu after it caught fire from flying embers.
Mum Shelley said she tried to put out the embers that landed on the roof of the 17-acre property with a hose but the water supply was turned off.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance in Los Angeles to meet the victims of the devasting wildfires.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also served food and donated toys and essential supplies to the victims outside the World Central Kitchen in Pasadena.
'War zone' LA feels 'broken' as fires still ravage the city - but we will rebuild
EVERY year Los Angeles braces itself for wildfires. It is not uncommon to see flames torching the hills and even houses burning to the ground.
But many residents have never witnessed anything as devastating as this week. And it’s nowhere near over.
I spent time near Pacific Palisades, where thick smoke filled the air, and saw desperate families fleeing the city while others begged police to give them access to their properties as roads were blocked off.
“Everything is gone” was heard many times, as thousands of people were left homeless and with few possessions.
I was lucky to only have the power go out in my home, but I’ll never forget what I witnessed traveling throughout the city.
It was like a war zone.
During a visit to a shelter, I spoke with a resident who has lived in his home for almost 30 years and is battling cancer. He stayed long after he was told to pack up and go.
It was only when flames began leaping around his building that he finally gathered his belongings and ran out.
I reported from Altadena, where buildings were still engulfed in flames, and few fire trucks were in sight as emergency services were overwhelmed.
Cars and school buses were completely torched, and heartbroken families stood around in shock, not being able to process what had happened.
As the sun went down, I drove back home towards the city center, which I felt was safe, until I saw orange flames leaping behind buildings just minutes from my house.
I felt sick. I’ve never known wildfires so close to Hollywood, and suddenly, phones were blaring with emergency notifications to evacuate the area.
Traffic lights and street lamps were out, and areas filled with fallen trees from the strong winds became gridlocked.
I feel extremely lucky I live minutes outside of the evacuation zone, but friends panicked and fled their homes.
Although many worldwide will merely shrug when they hear wealthy people have lost their homes, the reality is very different.
The city as a whole feels broken, everyone from single mothers to elderly people have been through hell.
And people are angry.
Dozens have spoken of their insurance policies being canceled just months before the fires, while others are reeling over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
They may be angry. But they are also hopeful. The people of Los Angeles are made of strong stuff.
We will get through this. And we will rebuild.