The Palisades Wildfire has devastated the Los Angeles area and tragically demolished over 5,000 buildings in its path thus far—including residential homes, schools, and businesses. Sandra Lee has now confirmed that her home was destroyed by the wildfires.
The television personality and cookbook author first took to Instagram on Tuesday, January 7, to report that the fire was rapidly approaching her Malibu home. She shared multiple videos of the fire as it ripped through the land and trees near her property.
"My home in Malibu has got me through some of the darkest moments in my life. I have loved creating it, embellishing it, building it, caring for it, and protecting it," she wrote.
"I’ve cherished every moment I have had with it."
Shortly after, Lee updated fans that her home did, in fact, burned down in the wildfire. "Last night, I was told that my house was lost in the fire. I didn’t sleep all night. All I did was cry and think about it," she captioned the post.
Fans were quick to rally around Lee in support. "We are all watching in horror and praying for all of you!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻," one person wrote in the comments, while another said, "Aunt Sandy😢😢😢 my heart is hurting for all of you in Malibu 🥺😢. Praying 🙏 for all of you and your homes."
"This is so tragic and horrifying," a third person added. "Evacuated my home in Pacific Palisades earlier today. So many people have lost their homes. Not sure if mine is ok. 😢 We are safe though and so grateful it happened during the day and not in the middle of the night. 🙏"
In a separate post, Lee shared her gratitude for fans and supporters amid the tragedy. "Thank you for all your well wishes," she said in an Instagram reel. "I'm in a hotel. I don't have a home anymore. My house is gone. It's really gone. I've been crying all night. Thank God everybody is safe."
"I don't know what to say, I don't know how to compartmentalize this, I don't know what to do," she continued. "All my stuff, all the last five years of my life. The only thing I can do is go to work, and I'm going to go to work today."
She went on to say—through tears—that she plans to "rebuild" her beloved home.
If you're looking for a way to support victims of the Palisades Wildfire, you can donate to organizations like the Los Angeles Food Bank, the California Fire Foundation, Baby2Baby, Red Cross, Animal Wellness Foundation, and Pasadena Humane Society—all of which are working around the clock to care for the community and community members during this time of devastation.
You can also make a donation to José Andrés' organization, World Central Kitchen. WCK is providing meals for families and first responders in the area during the wildfire.
