Mel Gibson inspected the ruins of his Malibu estate, destroyed by the devastating wildfires currently impacting Los Angeles.
The 69-year-old actor visited his property for the first time after the fire, noting that very little remained of his once-beautiful home, likening the remnants to something that could fit into an urn.
The Oscar winning actor was escorted through the neighborhood in a firetruck and then walked the grounds where his $14.5million residence once stood.
Expressing his emotions about the loss, Gibson described the experience as “devastating” and “emotional,” highlighting the sentimental value of the personal belongings lost in the fire. During an interview with NewsNation, he reflected on the significance of the items he can never retrieve.
Gibson, who appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast last week, revealed he was ‘ill at ease’ during their interview because ‘I knew my neighborhood was on fire’ and was wondering ‘if my place is still there’.
‘But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there,’ he said, before optimistically noting that at least now he doesn’t have any ‘pesky plumbing problems’.
Gibson was seen shaking hands with firefighters and first responders, seemingly thanking them for their efforts battling the devastating infernos that have killed at least 25 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures.
The actor is just one of dozens of celebrities who have lost their multi-million-dollar homes in the fires, including Paris Hilton, Eugene Levy, Miles Teller, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, and Candy Spelling, among others.
Mel Gibson toured the smoldering remains of his Malibu mansion, which was reduced to a heap of ashes by the apocalyptic wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles
Gibson, 69, surveyed his home for the first time on Wednesday, revealing now that so little remains of the once beautiful property that ‘you could put it in an urn’
The Oscar winning actor was escorted through the neighborhood in a firetruck and then walked the grounds where his $14.5million residence once stood
Gibson, who has lived in his Malibu home for about 15 years, says he lost a lot of ‘cool stuff’ during the fires. The residence is pictured before the devastating inferno
Gibson, who has lived in his Malibu home for about 15 years, says he lost a lot of ‘cool stuff’ during the fires – but knows it’s all replaceable.
He is happy that is family is safe and says he plans to clean up the lot and rebuild.
But he did manage to recover an end table from the rubble, which he did take with him, according to TMZ.
Gibson was also left stunned after a firefighter shockingly claimed there was no water in the fire hydrants, as the group drove through the fire-devastated areas of LA.
‘None of us were aware of the water issues with the reservoirs and stuff, right,’ the firefighter said.
Gibson asked if the fire crews were aware that ‘the reservoir was empty.’
Gibson was seen shaking hands with firefighters and first responders, seemingly thanking them for their efforts battling the devastating infernos that have killed at least 25 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures
Mel Gibson walks the remains of his destroyed Malibu home on Wednesday
The actor is seen shaking hands with firefighters who took him on a tour of the once luxurious neighborhood
Mel Gibson is seen walking through his Malibu neighborhood with fire crews on Wednesday
Actor Mel Gibson drove through LA with a firefighter and NewsNation’s Brian Entin. ‘None of us were aware of the water issues with the reservoirs and stuff, right,’ the firefighter said
Gibson took a tour of the burned down remains of his Malibu home on Wednesday, where almost everything was destroyed. He recalled in earlier interviews returning to ‘nothing’
While he said they initially had water, the firefighter added that the teams ran out of water ‘fairly quickly.’
‘It’s not uncommon for us to lose water in our firefight. It’s just that early in the game was surprising.’
Gibson, who previously questioned if the ‘convenient’ circumstances surrounding the fires had been ‘commissioned’, responded: ‘Because yeah, it wasn’t there. And no one told you. That’s the crazy bit.’
The firefighter said that his team was quickly equipped with ‘a lot of resources’ as the devastating wildfires progressed.
Gibson also gave NewsNation’s Brian Entin a tour of the burned down remains of his Malibu home, where almost everything was destroyed.
Gibson was also left stunned after a firefighter shockingly claimed there was no water in the fire hydrants, as the group drove through the fire-devastated areas of LA. He is pictured with firefighters on Wednesday as he surveyed the remains of his home
Gibson smiles as he is greeted by fire crews at the site where his Malibu mansions once stood
Mel Gibson speaks with firefighters at the site where his Malibu mansion once stood
The actor was able to recover his family’s passports and other important documents but everything else went up in flames (pictured, the remains of Gibson’s $14.5m mansion)
He recalled in earlier interviews returning to ‘nothing’ after his $14.5million Malibu mansion burned down while he was filming a podcast with Joe Rogan in Texas.
During filming, Gibson said he knew his neighborhood was on fire and wondered if his home was still standing.
He added: ‘I was doing the Rogan podcast… And [I was] kind of ill at ease while we were talking, because I knew my neighborhood was on fire, so I thought, I wonder if my place is still there.
‘But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there. I went home and I said to myself, well, at least I haven’t got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore.’
After learning that his house was about to be destroyed, the actor rushed back to the Malibu mansion with his son to grab whatever they could before it all turned to ash.
He told Fox News last week that the pair only escaped with their passports and a few other important documents while his artworks and books, some of which were from the 16th century and priceless, were destroyed in the flames.
‘It reminds me of the old cattle barrons clearing people off the land. I don’t know… it just seemed a little convenient that there was no water,’ he said.
‘The wind conditions and the fact that there were people ready, willing and able to start fires. And are they commissioned to do so or are they just acting on their own volition?’
A photo taken by a drone shows an aerial view of a neighborhood destroyed by the Palisades wildfire in Malibu, California on January 15, 2025
‘I can make all kinds of horrible theories up in my head, conspiracy theories and everything else, but it just seemed a little convenient that there was no water,’ Gibson previously said of the infernos. ‘And that the wind conditions were right and that there are people ready and willing and able to start fires.’ He is pictured with firefighters at his Malibu home on Wednesday
Gibson, pictured with firefighters in Malibu, revealed last week that he and his son only escaped with their passports and a few other important documents while his artworks and books, some of which were from the 16th century and priceless, were destroyed in the flames
Gibson had previously theorized on Fox News with Laura Ingraham if the ruinous fires were ‘commissioned’ in order to move people off valuable property.
‘I can make all kinds of horrible theories up in my head, conspiracy theories and everything else, but it just seemed a little convenient that there was no water,’ Gibson said.
‘And that the wind conditions were right and that there are people ready and willing and able to start fires.’
‘I know they were missing with the water, letting reserves go for one reason or another. They’ve been doing that a while. California has a lot of problems that sort of baffle the mind as far as why they do things.’
‘And then in events like this, you sort of look, well, it is on purpose? Which, it’s an insane thing to think.
‘But one begins to ponder whether or not there is a purpose in mind. What could it be? You know, what do they want? The state empty? I don’t know.’
The firefighter said that his team was quickly equipped with ‘a lot of resources’ as the devastating wildfires progressed
Gibson smiles as he meets with fire crews near his Malibu home
Mel Gibson was spotted smiling and shaking hands with the firemen on Wednesday
Pictured are the remains of Mel Gibson’s Malibu home. He reportedly grabbed an end table from the rubble to take with him
Mel Gibson shakes hands with a firefighter after arriving to his Malibu home in a fire truck
The actor told Ingraham: ‘One always suspect that this might happen.
‘One thinks that the resources and the capabilities of the men and women will be on standby, that they’ll be able to cope with any situation that comes up, but apparently some people were asleep on the job, mainly our leaders there.’
‘But, you know, that’s something they have to live with — but that’s something that the community has to live with, and it’s really sad.’
So far, at least 25 people have died as a result of the LA fires, and more than 180,000 people have been forced to evacuate.
Red Flag warnings advising of extreme wildfire danger expired across the LA area late on Wednesday, but forecasters warned that dry and windy conditions will persist on Thursday – and that the threat of blazes remained.
The National Weather Service added that the respite for fire-ravaged Los Angeles will be short, with high chances for renewed Red Flag warnings – when ideal fire conditions of high winds and low humidity dominate – starting again on Sunday.
Some 6.5 million people remained under a critical fire threat, after the fires consumed an area nearly the size of DC, resulting in at least 25 deaths so far.
Firefighters on Wednesday confronted persistently strong and dry winds fueling two giant wildfires that have terrified Los Angeles for eight days, testing the resolve of a city upended by the worst disaster in its history.
Officials urged residents to remain vigilant and be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice with peak wind gusts forecast to last through Thursday afternoon.
‘We want to reiterate the particularly dangerous situation today. Get ready now and be prepared to leave,’ County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath told a press conference on Wednesday.
Mel Gibson, pictured surveying the remains of his home, said: ‘When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there. I went home and I said to myself, well, at least I haven’t got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore’
Red Flag warnings advising of extreme wildfire danger expired across the LA area late on Wednesday, but forecasters warned that dry and windy conditions will persist on Thursday – and that the threat of blazes remained. Mel Gibson is seen touring his home Wednesday
Mel Gibson arrived to his former home in a fire truck, escorted by first responders
Fire crews are pictured near Mel Gibson’s home in Malibu, California
Forecasted winds of up to 70mph did not materialize on Wednesday. Still, firefighters reported winds of 30 to 40mph combined with low humidity in a region that has failed to receive any appreciable rain in nine months, meaning fire threats remain.
The fires have damaged or destroyed more than 12,000 homes and other structures, and forced as many as 200,000 people from their homes.
Some 82,400 people were under evacuation orders and another 90,400 faced evacuation warnings as of Wednesday, County Sheriff Robert Luna said.
Entire neighborhoods have been leveled, leaving smoldering ash and rubble. Many homes only have a chimney stack left standing.
Some 8,500 firefighters from the western United States, Canada and Mexico have kept the growth of the fires in check for three days.
The Palisades Fire on the west edge of the city held steady at 23,713 acres burned, and containment nudged up to 19 per cent – a measurement of how much of the perimeter was under control. The Eaton Fire in the foothills east of the city stood at 14,117 acres with containment at 45 per cent.
A fleet of air tankers and helicopters dropped water and fire retardant into the rugged hills while ground crews with hand tools and hoses worked to contain the fires.
Aerial firefighters – or fire bombers – operate without precision equipment or autopilot, just a pilot’s view through the windscreen and his experience.
Hundreds of visiting firefighters and emergency workers are staying outside the Rose Bowl football stadium, a base camp where colleagues build camaraderie in between shifts of 24 hours on followed by 24 hours off.
Actor Mel Gibson, star of the ‘Lethal Weapon’ franchise, is spotted meeting with some firemen to check out his Malibu home recently destroyed in the LA wildfires
‘Nothing’ remains of Mel Gibson’s home, the actor has claimed
Mel Gibson was smiling as he talked and shook hands with the firemen on Wednesday
Thousands of homes were destroyed in the LA wildfires, including Mel Gibson’s
Mel was spotted smiling and shaking hands with the firemen near his Malibu home
Despite being ‘devastated’, Mel Gibson was seen smiling as he surveyed his home
Mel Gibson walks through the ash and rubble after his Malibu mansion was destroyed by fires
Firefighters are pictured near Mel Gibson’s Malibu home on Wednesday. The LA fires have damaged or destroyed more than 12,000 homes and other structures, and forced as many as 200,000 people from their homes
A new fire broke out on Wednesday in San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles, burning 30 acres, Cal Fire reported. Two other fires in Southern California were largely under control.
While the fires rage on, critics have questioned whether the city properly prepared for fire danger in the face of National Weather Service warnings about hazardous weather, even though firefighters were on alert and able to deploy assets beforehand.
Fire Chief Kristin Crowley fielded queries on Wednesday about a Los Angeles Times report that fire officials had opted against ordering 1,000 firefighters to remain on duty for a second shift last Tuesday as fires were beginning to grow out of control.
The Times cited critics who said the outgoing shift should have been kept on duty and that as many as 25 additional fire engines should have been moved into hillsides.
This is what remains of Mel Gibson’s Malibu mansion
Mel stands in the rubble that remains of his Malibu mansion
Actor Mel Gibson, star of the ‘Lethal Weapon’ franchise, is spotted meeting with some firemen to check out his Malibu home recently destroyed in the LA wildfires
Crowley defended her department’s preparation, saying it was impossible to know exactly where fires might break out and that some firefighters needed to remain in place to field ordinary emergency calls anywhere in the city.
‘We did everything in our capability to surge where we could,’ Crowley said.
The Times quoted Deputy Chief Richard Fields, who was in charge of staffing and equipment decisions ahead of the fire, as saying the scrutiny was welcome but that critics were too easily second-guessing decisions after the fact.
