Melissa Rivers recalled how swiftly the spread, forcing the county鈥檚 Ready, Set, Go evacuation plan to essentially skip straight to 鈥淪et.鈥� That left her with little time to gather her most valued possessions before fleeing her home.
When the final warning arrived, Rivers said Tuesday, 鈥淭he fire was still a canyon away, but you could clearly see the flames.鈥�
In the rush to evacuate, she quickly gathered her pets and a few sentimental items, including her late mother 鈥� Emmy Award. 鈥淚 grabbed both my parents鈥� watches and my dad鈥檚 dress watch," which she had given to her son Cooper for his 18th birthday.
She also managed to pack a few pieces of clothing. 鈥淎ll our belongings are crammed into three tote bags, three large canvas bags, and several Macy鈥檚 plastic bags along with a CVS bag,鈥� she said.
The fire completely devastated her property. 鈥淲e lost everything. The only thing that survived is our front gate and the barbecue,鈥� Rivers shared.
She described the scale of destruction as unimaginable.
鈥淚t鈥檚 so much more than just the homes 鈥� it鈥檚 an entire town wiped off the map,鈥� she said. 鈥淢any businesses in Palisades were family-owned. There are people who not only lost their homes but also their businesses and livelihoods.鈥�
Finding safe shelter has been another challenge.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had to move three times due to evacuations, but we鈥檝e settled at a friend鈥檚 house in Santa Monica,鈥� Rivers said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been kind enough to take us in, along with another family we鈥檙e friends with.鈥�
Rivers copes with these challenges through her self-proclaimed 鈥渄ark sense of humor鈥� and her knack for making people laugh. She also finds solace in supporting others who are struggling, which helps to ease her own burdens.
鈥淐hecking in and comforting the people in my world that are affected by this allows me to not deal with my home stuff right now. I cried once for five minutes and then again for like 20 and don鈥檛 have time to do that. I am my parents' daughter.鈥�
Despite losing most of her belongings, Rivers is adamant about prioritizing those in greater need.
鈥淧eople are donating, and stores are offering huge discounts. I see so many of my friends from the Palisades wanting to get a discount somewhere. And I keep trying to say to them, these are not meant for you. You can buy another pair of freaking jeans at Neiman Marcus just like you always did. Let the people who really need it have the first shot at it.鈥�
Among the charitable donations, one stood out to Rivers.
鈥滱pparently, Jennifer Lopez dropped off some clothes. And we were laughing someone, somewhere just got a pair of a Jennifer Lopez鈥檚 jeans. How amazing,鈥� she said.
John Carucci, The Associated Press
