Jay Leno Serves First Responders Fighting L.A. Wildfires Hot Meals in Vintage Fire Truck

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Jay Leno is giving back to the first responders fighting the disastrous Los Angeles wildfires.

As a devoted admirer, I’m sharing this heartwarming story: Last night, I, just like in his old “Tonight Show” days, provided meals to the courageous firefighters tackling the Palisades Fire. This act of kindness took place approximately one week since the flames first sparked in that region. In a touching conversation with Anderson Cooper on CNN, I revealed that instead of the typical boxed lunches, we served hot food to these heroes – a small gesture to fuel their bodies and spirits as they bravely fight these terrifying blazes.

He informed Cooper on Monday evening that they were preparing food for the team, and if anyone was feeling peckish, they were welcome to join,” or simply, “He said they were cooking for the team and invited Cooper to eat if he was hungry, as they had a large barbecue going.

I rolled up in a gleaming 1941 American LaFrance fire truck, crimson as ever, to the congested spot. Living in L.A., it’s quite handy to own such a ride, I quipped. Just the previous day, we extended a helping hand at the historic Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena.

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The ex-TV presenter and humorist mused over the “hard-to-accept” devastation in Pacific Palisades, likening the traumatic impact to that experienced during the September 11, 2001, terrorist incidents.

He stated that the events of 9/11 were not comparable to a natural disaster in terms of their occurrence, but rather in their immense scale. To put it into perspective, he said that if 10,000 buildings were standing next to each other, it would be like driving all day without seeing such a vast number. From a certain hilltop, you could look for miles and not see anything else because there would be nothing but these 10,000 buildings.

On January 7, wildfires ignited in the Palisades, quickly engulfing areas across Los Angeles. At least 24 lives have been tragically lost due to this disaster. Despite the overwhelming destruction caused by these fires, Leno pointed out that a strong “community spirit” has emerged, with people coming together to help one another, serving as a silver lining amidst the devastation.

It’s unfortunate that we find ourselves in this situation. The last time I can recall such unity was following the 9/11 tragedy. For several days then, political differences were set aside, and petty disputes over lawn signs were forgotten. Regrettably, we see similar unity emerging today, but it’s only because of this unfortunate circumstance.

Eric Scott, a fire captain at the Los Angeles Fire Department and their public information officer, praised Leno’s “kindness” and expressed gratitude for the “community support during these difficult times” in a post on X, sharing a video of the comedian providing meals to frontline workers.

Leno admitted that the wildfires had completely destroyed a city and that Pacific Palisades might not be recognizable or even exist for the next five to six years due to the devastation. Facing such immense challenges ahead, Leno remained optimistic, saying, “We’ll persevere. We always have.

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2025-01-16 01:55