Jennifer Garner, who has been working to assist and repair the Pacific Palisades community through the raging California wildfires, said that one of her friends died amid the fires.
The actor spoke to MSNBC’s Katy Tur on Jan. 10, several days after multiple wildfires erupted across the Los Angeles area, burning communities, landmarks and thousands of homes. NBC News reported Jan. 12 that at least 16 people have been killed, and the fire has swept through about 37,000 acres across Los Angeles.
After seeing the destruction, Garner said she reached out to World Central Kitchen’s Chef José Andrés, who has been in the L.A. area trying to feed and assist residents who have lost their homes and been affected by the fires.
Both Garner and Andrés discussed the devastation with MSNBC, particularly in the Pacific Palisades where the largest blaze continues to expand.
“I’ve lived in and around the Palisades for 25 years,” Garner said. “So I think all of us want to get our hands into working somehow, to be helpful. And because of my work with Save the Children, (I) have a relationship with chef, and I was able to just say, ‘Can I be with you for the day? What can I do to help? Put me to work.’”
Garner described the close-knit Pacific Palisades community, the bond the neighbors share and her family’s Methodist church that burned down.
She told Tur that she “did lose a friend.”
“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 in time,” Garner said.
She continued, “My heart bleeds for my friends. I mean, I can think of 100 families, and there are 5,000 homes lost… I could just write out a list of 100 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 do I have to offer with these hands and these walls and the safety that I have?”
Garner applauded Andrés and World Central Kitchen for stepping in to feed the community.
“We need to remember that we cannot leave these communities forgotten,” Andrés said. “Obviously, everybody has to remember them. We need to find ways so they can start reconstruction.”
He said the priority should be caring for those affected.
NBC News’ Jacob Soboroff joined the interview and pointed out many who worked in Pacific Palisades have lost jobs, as well.
“They’re the staple of the community,” Garner replied. “Honestly, the Palisades feels like a little neighborhood. So it’s almost like Sesame Street, like, you know the people who are serving our food. You care about each other. There’s a reciprocity here. There’s a real love here, and we’ve got to take care of them.”
She said it is also important to support children who have lost schools, homes, churches and playgrounds.
“The people are strong, and the sense of community is strong. We will look after each other and that is still here. That’s stronger than ever,” she said. “And just like chef said, I’ve gotten to visit so many disaster relief areas, and I mean, this is tragic, but you always find love and hope.”
The Palisades Fire is 11% contained as of Jan. 12, according to Cal Fire.
The Eaton Fire and Hurst Fires are also still burning. As of Sunday, more than 12,000 buildings and structures have been destroyed and more than 153,000 have been asked to evacuate. More than a dozen people are currently missing, NBC News reports.
The Eaton Fire is 27% contained while the Hurst Fire near Sylmar is 89% contained, per Cal Fire.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday that the fires will be one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. He has also called for an independent investigation into the local water supply after some firefighters said fire hydrants were lacking water.
His comments come as the National Weather Service reports another round of Santa Ana winds will pick up Tuesday, Jan. 14, and could potentially spread flames.
Find a list of organizations vetted and approved by NBC News that are helping those impacted by the California fires here.
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