Jay Leno retired from The Tonight Show in 2014 and has spent the last 11 years living a quieter life in California. When the wildfires began to blaze near his home, Jay knew he wanted to help his community. Jay, a well-known car enthusiast, decided that if he was going to lend a hand, he wanted to do it in style. The 74-year-old comedian drove his 1941 American LaFrance fire truck to deliver hot food to first responders continuing to battle the horrific wildfires. Jay told Anderson Cooper he wanted to help.
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“We’re cooking for the crew and, well, you guys, if you’re hungry. We got a big barbecue going,” Jay said. “And because they’re all getting boxed lunches, we figured, let’s get some hot food.”
Jay then joked, “It’s good to have your own fire truck if you live in L.A.”
Jay Leno Told Anderson Cooper The Fire Damage Astounded Him
Jay, who survived a car fire in 2022, remarked about the devastation in California.
“It is 10,000 buildings. Even if you drove all day, you couldn’t see 10,000. You get on that hill and you look for miles, and there’s nothing. It looks like Hiroshima or just some horrible thing,” He said.
Jay then wanted the community to respond to what America saw in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks.
“The last time, I remember, was 9/11. President Bush, we all got together and the sense of community. For three or four days, everybody put aside their political beliefs and who’s on your lawn on a sign, and all that nonsense. It’s happening here today. I mean, it’s a shame, that’s what it takes.”
Jay Leno added that the entire city was wiped out by the fire.
“Pacific Palisades, it doesn’t exist and probably won’t exist for the next five, six years,” Jay estimated. “I don’t know how you rebuild this. It’s $160 billion, there’s no insurance company in the world that has that much money. The problems will be insurmountable, but we’ll get through it. We always do.”
This story’s featured image is by Ryan Emberley/amfAR/Getty Images for amfAR.
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