(NewsNation) — Film actor and director Mel Gibson and NewsNation’s Brian Entin participated in a ride-along with California first responders to survey the remains of Los Angeles area properties scorched by the devastating wildfires.
Gibson asked a first responder if his team had been informed that “the reservoir was empty.” The responder explained they initially had water but ran out “fairly quickly.”
“It’s not uncommon for us to lose water in our firefight. It’s just that early in the game was surprising,” the firefighter said, to which Gibson responded “Because yeah, it wasn’t there. And no one told you? That’s crazy.”
The first responder also told Entin and Gibson his team was quickly equipped with “a lot of resources” to fight the devastating wildfires.
Gibson’s Malibu home was destroyed in the massive wildfires, which he described as “devastating.” He told Entin that his Oscars were stored elsewhere and are safe despite losing everything else.
He gave NewsNation a tour of the destruction of his Malibu home, remaining positive with plans to “look forward” rather than backward.
“I feel I belong to a large but elite group,” Gibson said. “It’s devastating for all of them, too.” Gibson also pointed out the destruction of his home is hazardous, as he avoided numerous nails.
At least 25 people have died in the fires that started last week, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. About 88,000 people are under evacuation orders because of the fires.
Over 12,000 structures have been destroyed in the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires.
Gibson told NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” last week that he was in Austin, Texas, appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast when he learned the fire had broken out. He says that while speaking with Rogan, he was “ill at ease” because he’d heard his neighborhood was in flames.
“I thought, ‘Eh, I wonder if my place is still there,’” Gibson said. “When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there.”
Gibson noted that he was surprised by the intensity of the damage and by what seemed to be the randomness of which houses were destroyed in his neighborhood.
“(The area) was completely toasted. I’ve never seen such a complete burn,” Gibson told Vargas, saying he isn’t sure if he’ll rebuild there but that he was grateful for the generosity of those living nearby and the fact his family was safe.