Melissa Rivers Saves Irreplaceable Joan Rivers Keepsake Before Palisades Fire Engulfs Home

Melissa Rivers revealed that she managed to save an irreplaceable item belonging to her late mother, Joan Rivers, before evacuating her Santa Monica home, which the Palisades Fire later destroyed.

The 56-year-old shared an update on social media, confirming that she and her family were safe, but her home was destroyed.

Melissa Rivers joins a growing list of celebrities who have lost their homes in the widespread fires across the Los Angeles area.

The television personality and producer shared the heartbreaking news during an interview with CNN on Wednesday.

“To be 100 percent honest, I grabbed my mom’s Emmy, a photo of my dad, and a drawing that my mother had done of me and my son,” Melissa said. Joan, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 81, had won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1990 for her talk show, "The Joan Rivers Show."

Reflecting on her quick decision-making during the evacuation, Melissa noted the unique emotional weight of her choices. “It’s amazing what you grab. It’s amazing what you take,” the 56-year-old said. “I went for a drawing of my mother’s rather than a photo because I know I can find the photos. [The drawing] I can’t replace.”

In addition to these sentimental items, Melissa described how she worked through a “mental checklist” to gather essentials like passports, birth certificates, medication, clothing, and pet supplies. Despite her preparation, she admitted to being struck by the gravity of her situation. “I just was shopping for clothes, and it started to just hit me that we literally have what’s on our back,” she said, her voice thick with emotion.

Melissa urged viewers to prioritize critical documents and essentials when facing evacuation.

“The most important thing is to have all your ‘papers’ together,” she emphasized. Still, the loss of her home and the widespread destruction left her devastated. “My heart is so broken, not just for myself, but for everybody going through this,” she said. “It’s a town, and it’s wiped off the map.”

Earlier in the week, Melissa shared an update on social media, confirming that she and her family were safe.

“My family and I have safely evacuated, and we are deeply grateful to be unharmed,” she wrote on Instagram. “I am heartbroken by the devastation caused by the fires, which have tragically destroyed my home. I want to express my profound gratitude to the courageous firefighters and first responders who are tirelessly risking their lives to protect our communities and save lives.”

Melissa’s home, a 7,048-square-foot Mediterranean-style property in Santa Monica, was purchased after she sold her previous residence in the Pacific Palisades in 2018. The home, which featured six bedrooms, was profiled in Architectural Digest in 2020, showcasing its elegant design and personal touches.

The catastrophic wildfires sweeping across Southern California have claimed the homes of numerous residents, including several high-profile celebrities. Among those affected are Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh Teller, who have shared the heartbreaking news that their home was destroyed in the disaster. Adding to the tragedy, Keleigh revealed that her wedding dress was lost in the blaze.

The devastation extends to Hollywood star Anna Faris, who lost her $5 million Pacific Palisades mansion. Legendary American songwriter Diane Warren is also mourning the destruction of her beachfront house, which was consumed by the relentless flames. The fires have left entire neighborhoods unrecognizable and forced families, including some of the entertainment industry's most beloved figures, to start over.

As of Thursday, January 9, over 100,000 Los Angeles residents remain under evacuation orders.

Officials report that thousands of buildings have been reduced to rubble, and while the death toll was initially reported as five, the exact number remains uncertain due to the fast-moving and unpredictable nature of the wildfires.