Sandra Lee opens up about her Malibu home that survived the devastating Palisades fire—and the guilt she feels along with it.
In an Instagram post on Monday, January 13, the cookbook author and TV host, 58, shared a photo of herself standing outside her home with a lengthy caption. Lee has been sharing updates since she first believed her house was destroyed on January 8.
“I was able to go to Malibu late yesterday. Heavy heart for my local community, but the most shocked and grateful heart that I share my home, Avalon, is still standing,” she said. “I couldn’t believe my eyes that I was one of 10 houses in my neighborhood that were still there. I don’t know how. I can only assume it was quick action by our firefighters.”
Lee said she was in “complete disbelief” after learning her home was still standing after the Palisades Fire leveled parts of Malibu.
“I feel guilty for being part of the bubble of these spared homes. I feel so sad for the people who lost their lives and I grieve for the families who lost their loved ones,” she continued. “There are no words to express my emotions as these fires continue to burn out of control. My heart goes out to everyone in Los Angeles, my many neighbors and my two most wonderful girls whose homes are gone.”
Lee ended her post by thanking the firefighters and other first responders who worked to protect Los Angeles from the fires.
“I hope you will join me today in saying a prayer for LA and our communities. Thank you for keeping us all in your thoughts,” she ended the post. “For me, I will thank God every day.”
Lee first heard the home might have survived when she received a call from her real estate agent who said the Malibu home, as well as some of her neighbors’ homes, were still standing, she shared in an Instagram post on Thursday, May 9. January.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Craig Barritt/Getty; Sandra Lee Online/Instagram
In a previous Instagram Reel posted on Wednesday, January 8, Lee said her house had burned down.
“I’m in a hotel. I don’t have a home anymore. My house is gone. It’s literally gone. I cried all night,” she began the tearful video, adding that she would like to rebuild it. “Thank God everyone is safe.”
Sandra Lee says Malibu home that got her through her ‘darkest moments’ destroyed by California wildfire
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(862x578:864x580)/hall-malibu-fires-11325-dd16ab7203014f6eacdd50c22072a1ca.jpg)
Waterfront homes go up in flames along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu on January 7.
David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty
The devastating Palisades Fire first broke out in LA’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Jan. 7 and has since burned more than 23,700 acres at 14% containment, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. On the other side of LA County, the Eaton Fire also started on January 7th and has already burned more than 14,000 acres and is now 33% contained. Additional fires also broke out in the Southern California region.
Many celebrities have reported losing their homes in the fires, including Billy Crystal, Anna Faris, Paris Hilton, Candy Spelling, Cameron Mathison, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, Ricki Lake and Anthony Hopkins.
Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the LA fires.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education