NBC’s Jacob Soboroff fights tears while revisiting childhood home destroyed by Palisades fire

Childhood homes hold a special place in most people’s hearts, making it incredibly difficult to cope when they’re lost forever. NBC News reporter Jacob Soboroff experienced this firsthand when the recent Los Angeles County wildfires destroyed his childhood home. Among the 2,000 structures lost to the blaze, Soboroff’s former residence was reduced to ashes, leaving him visibly emotional. While surveying the devastation, the journalist struggled to hold back tears as he witnessed the "whole town gone" overnight. A heartbreaking video shared by NBC’s Nightly News on Facebook captured the Pacific Palisades community grappling with homelessness in the aftermath of the uncontrollable fire.

Driving through the charred remnants of his LA County neighborhood, Soboroff struggled to process the devastation. Ravaged buildings, ash-filled streets, and a gray, smoke-filled sky painted a scene of desolation. “I’ve never seen anything like this. We’ve had a lot of fires, and even evacuated sometimes. But nothing like this,” the 42-year-old journalist reported. As he continued, he passed the town’s public library, still ablaze at the time. “I brought my kids here. This was like the pride of the community when this thing was built," Soboroff said. The locals of Pacific Palisades would carry the pain and burden of the tragedy for a long time, suggested NBC’s national correspondent.

“The weight of it all is very intense to think about,” said Soboroff. He also spoke with veteran firefighters who have spent nearly their entire lives battling fire outbreaks. One of the crew members reaffirmed Soboroff’s estimation, pointing out, “In my 26 years of service, this could be one of the most devastating fires.” The wildfire in the neighborhood reportedly destroyed churches, schools and two supermarkets. When the California-based firefighter was asked how the community would overcome the tragedy, his response was enlightening. “You come back one day at a time,” he emphasized, trying to ignite hope among the victims. At this point, Soboroff gathered all his courage to visit his childhood home, now reduced to ruins.

Standing near Sunset Boulevard, Soboroff gazed at the ruins of his childhood home. “I just can’t believe it. I thought I was going to wake up this morning, and it was going to be a bad dream.” Notably, this was the first time he had visited the place where he grew up in many years. “This is the first time that I’ve seen the house that I grew up in, and I don’t really know what to say,” said Soboroff, trying hard to hold back his tears. After standing there speechless, Soboroff FaceTimed his mother to share the moment as the place departed from their lives. “Oh, I'm so sad. Every one of you guys (referring to her kids) was born in that house,” his mom expressed.

Letting go of his childhood home was especially hard for Soboroff, as it remained deeply cherished by his family. Reflecting on the broader impact, he shared, “I talk to my friends, who I spent so much time with on these streets, and it’s hard to imagine what comes next and what happens next.” At least five people lost their lives in the devastating wildfire, as per The Los Angeles Times, which is still burning across LA County. In many areas, including those in Ventura County, red flag warnings remain in place as the blaze continues to sweep through Hollywood Hills.

Disclaimer: This is a developing story, and we’ll update you as we learn more. Information about the Palisades fire is swiftly changing, and Upworthy is committed to providing the most recent and verified updates in our articles and reportage. However, considering the frequency of developments, some of the information/data in this article may have changed since the time of publication. You can get official alerts and updates on the Palisades fire from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection."