Heidi Montag has revealed that she only saved one thing while escaping from her LA home as the wildfires approached her property.
The reality TV star, who is known for appearing on The Hills show with co-star and husband Spencer Pratt, opened up about this trying time which has seen 25 people die and thousands of homes destroyed since the wildfires broke out on 7 January.
The 38-year-old shares Gunner, seven, and two-year-old Ryker with Pratt, and the pair set up home in their $3.7 million mansion in Los Angeles.
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Sadly, like a slew of other celebs in the area, their home was also taken by the Pacific Palisades blaze.
Speaking on Good Morning America, she revealed that she only saved one specific thing, recalling that it was ‘overwhelming’ to figure out what she needed to prioritise in her rush.
Montag said: "Spencer was like 'Grab anything you wanna keep..' and I was like 'How do you choose?' My brain actually stopped working because I was so overwhelmed with so many things you can't replace. So I grabbed my kids' teddy bears.”
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Explaining the devastation the family are going through right now, Montag shared: "It's a place that you love, that you live. That's a refuge from the world and to have that be gone is a really difficult concept to continue dealing with."
Have a listen here:
While many may be quick to say that the pair are wealthy and therefore could simply buy a new home, she went on to say that they are 'house poor' and while they owned their home, they had to really hustle to pay for anything else.
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She said: "We were house poor, as they call it. We have a house and everything else is a hustle, it's a grind. So, yeah, we're definitely counting every dollar that we make. We're working really hard. We take one trip a year."
Spencer chimed in that it really hit hard when he saw the devastation done to his son’s room, stating: "The worst was our kids’ room that is so magical. We do story time every night. It’s our routine.
"Our son’s bed started just burning in the shape of a heart, I was like, 'This is out of body insane'."
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"I feel like a ghost," Spencer continued. "I don’t have a single photo now from before an iPhone existed. I don’t have any of the dumb little things that were on the shelfs at your parents’ houses. They’re all gone. Not a single nothing."
The pair were dropped from their insurance coverage like many others in the area, which means that they will not be compensated for their home and belongings going up in flames.
As the pair noted how incredibly hard they work to ensure that their family is taken care of and allow themselves to go on holiday once a year, it is a shame that they are in this position.
But they have seen immense support, with Heidi adding: "The fan support has been such a light in such a darkness for us and it's life-changing."
All the celebrities who have lost their homes in LA wildfires
Paris Hilton
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Paris Hilton said on social media that she watched her Malibu home 'burn to the ground' on television.
She wrote: "I’m standing here in what used to be our home, and the heartbreak is truly indescribable. When I first saw the news, I was in complete shock—I couldn’t process it. But now, standing here and seeing it with my own eyes, it feels like my heart has shattered into a million pieces."
Mandy Moore
Meanwhile, singer and actor Mandy Moore spoke of her heartbreak as the fires 'levelled' her neighbourhood of Altadena.
The This Is Us star shared an update on her 'home' on Instagram, explaining: "This is Altadena. Leveled. My sweet home. I am devastated and gutted for those of us who've lost so much. I'm absolutely numb."
Anna Faris
Scary Movie star Anna Faris tragically lost the home she shared with her family in the Pacific Palisades.
Representatives for the actor told People: "Anna and her family are safe and very grateful."
Ricki Lake
Hairspray star and talk show host Ricki Lake took to social media to confirm the 'immeasurable' loss of her 'dream home'.
“It’s all gone. I can’t believe I am typing these words,” she began. “It was our heaven on earth. The place where we planned to grow old together.
"We never took our heavenly spot on the bluff overlooking our beloved Malibu for granted, not even for one second. I shared our sunset views almost daily with all of you.”
Lake confirmed she will soon share ‘how [she] escaped’, adding: "For now I grieve."
Diane Warren
Celebrated songwriter and Academy Honorary Award winner Diane Warren confirmed the house she'd lived in for nearly 30 years was destroyed in the blaze.
She wrote: “There's a rainbow shining on it, which I'm taking as a sign of hope for all creatures who have been affected by this tragedy.
"The animals and the rescue ranch are OK tho which is the most important thing. Stay safe everyone.”
Billy Crystal
When Harry Met Sally star Crystal and his wife, Janice, confirmed they lost the home they'd lived in since 1979 in the devastating blaze.
In a statement, Crystal said all that remained of his property was its tennis court.
He said: "We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away.
"We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this."
Eugene Levy
Schitt's Creek star Eugene Levy is among those whose homes were lost in the raging wildfires, as per the Daily Mail.
The actor had told the Los Angeles Times that he had been caught in a gridlock while attempting to evacuate the danger zone.
"The smoke looked pretty black and intense of Temescal Canyon," he stated. "I couldn't see any flames, but the smoke was very dark."
Cameron Mathison
General Hospital star Cameron Mathison shared a shocking video of his house reduced to rubble and ash as he gave fans an update.
Taking to Instagram, he wrote: "We are safe But this is what’s left of our beautiful home. Our home where our kids were raised and where they wanted to raise their own someday."
The Canadian actor had lived in the home with their now-estranged wife, Vanessa Arevalo, and their two children, having purchased it in 2012.
Sandra Lee
Cookbook author and TV show host Sandra Lee revealed that the fires destroyed her Malibu home, which had been a sanctuary during her 'darkest moments'.
Posting an emotional Instagram Reel, she spoke of her heartbreak but also expressed gratitude for the safety of her loved ones.
"I cried all night and thought about every room, nook, and cranny," she explained, adding: "Everyone is safe, that is all that matters," she resolved.
Lee purchased the home in November 2019, a milestone moment after splitting from former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The chef had aspired to purchase such a property since her early days as a waitress in 1989.
Cary Elwes
Having previously shared a video of the 'biblical' Los Angeles blaze as he was evacuated, The Princess Bride star later confirmed his home was no longer.
Taking to Instagram, he said: "Sadly, we did lose our home, but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire.
"Our hearts go out to all the families impacted by this tragic event and we also with to extend our gratitude to all the firefighters, first responders and law enforcement who worked so tirelessly through the night and are still at it."
Milo Ventimiglia
The This Is Us star revealed that he'd watched his house burn down on his security cameras.
He told CBS: "It’s heavy. You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and whatnot, and then you see your neighbours' houses and everything kind of around, and your heart just breaks."
Mel Gibson
The Mad Max actor said he found out his home had been destroyed in the fires while filming an episode of Joe Rogen's podcast.
He told NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas Reports: "It’s kind of devastating. It’s emotional. I was doing the Rogan podcast… And [I was] kind of ill at ease while we were talking because I knew my neighbourhood was on fire, so I thought, I wonder if my place is still there."
Tina Knowles
Beyoncé's mother took to Instagram to share that her Malibu bungalow had been lost to the fires.
She wrote: "This is what I was looking at on my birthday this past weekend from my tiny little bungalow on the water in Malibu! It was my favourite place, my sanctuary, my sacred Happy Place. Now it is gone!!"
Adam Brody and Leighton Meester
Adam Brody’s Los Angeles home has been ‘reduced to rubble and ash,' according to reports from TMZ.
Images shared by the publication showed ‘black smoke’ rising from the wreckage.
Brody and his wife, Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, reportedly purchased their home in 2019 and lived there with their two children.
Miles Teller
According to the Daily Mail, Whiplash star Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh Sperry Teller join the list of stars who've lost their homes in the brutal natural disaster.
The couple, who married in 2019, purchased the 6,600-square-foot mansion in April 2023.
His wife later took to Instagram to share some photos of their house, writing: "Snapped this driving out. To everyone reaching out I can’t thank you enough, your kind hearts have meant the world, I’ll never forget them."
Britt Jones