Actress Mandy Moore shared her pain on Instagram and wrote, “My heart and mind are completely broken.” The devastating Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, in January caused heavy damage to her almost-finished house and valuables. Recalling the destruction caused by this fire, she said that her dream was just about to come true, but now she has to start again. The support she received from fans and loved ones has given her courage in this difficult time.
Mandy Moore’s emotional reveal: Dream destroyed by fire
On Tuesday, February 11, This Is Us star Mandy Moore shared a photo of her home on her Instagram, in which she made the heartbreaking revelation that “the contents of our home have been almost completely destroyed” due to the massive fire and surrounding burning structures. Earlier, on January 9, she offered a glimmer of hope, saying that “miraculously” the main structure of the home is still standing. Though she is facing the challenge of rebuilding her life after the tragedy, she is determined to move forward with the support of her fans and family.
Mandy Moore’s emotional reaction: Preparing to rebuild after fire
On Tuesday, Mandy Moore expressed her frustration, writing, “Almost everything will have to be taken down… maybe even the walls.” She also explained that they won’t be able to live there for long, as the entire area goes through the process of organizing itself, cleaning up, and starting to rebuild. Despite the devastation of the fire, Moore expressed hope that her home and community will one day be able to regain their old identity.
Eaton fire horror: When Mandy Moore and her family were forced to leave home
Mandy Moore recalled the terrifying day she decided to evacuate with her husband Taylor Goldsmith and their three young children—Gus (3), Ozzie (2), and Lou Everett (4 months). “That day, Tuesday, January 7th, is etched in my memory,” she wrote emotionally. Her eldest child’s school was also closed because of high winds, making the situation even more stressful. The difficult decision, made weeks before the Eaton fire raged, completely changed their lives.
Sudden danger: When Mandy Moore had to make the tough decision to leave home
Mandy Moore was feeding her daughter when she received a call from her brother-in-law, Griffin Goldsmith, at 6:45 p.m. He told her he was evacuating with his family and advised Moore to do the same immediately. “I calmly went downstairs and told my husband this, and without delay we packed up the kids (in their pajamas), our dog, and rushed in the dark to find our three cats, as the power had already gone out,” Moore wrote.
Terrifying night: When Mandy Moore made a big decision amid the fire
“I’ll never forget Taylor trying to manually open our two new garage doors in 60 mph winds. The sky was glowing a deep red, and ash was falling all around,” Moore recalled. They sped across a freeway littered with fallen trees to the safety of a friend’s house. But Moore’s anxiety didn’t ease overnight—she kept refreshing the Watch Duty app to see when the evacuation order for her 8-block area would be extended. Then at 4 a.m., her home was officially under threat.
A Sense of Uncertainty: When It Was All Gone
“I tossed and turned restlessly all night, with our two sons fast asleep between us. Lou slept in a travel crib on the floor, and our dog curled up near the door, as if seeking safety,” Moore wrote. By morning, two neighbors confirmed that their home had been destroyed. “We held each other, trying to come to terms with this unimaginable reality,” she said. Then, she and Taylor decided to shop for clothes—because they had left empty-handed, fully expecting to return home the next morning.
Miraculous rescue, but irreparable loss
“Within hours we realized that much of our property had burned to ashes, but our house was by some miracle still standing,” Moore wrote. However, she added that her entire community was devastated by the destruction. Deeply shocked, Moore appealed for help and guidance in her Instagram comments section, writing, “If you have any help or advice on how to recover from this trauma, please share… My heart and mind are completely broken.”
Feelings of conflict and instability
Describing her feelings, Moore wrote, “I say all this because I am struggling internally. Yes, technically, we are lucky that our house still exists in some form. But is it really still our home?” She further said that home is not just a physical structure but a place where her family feels safe together. “The five of us together, that is real home, but that shelter, that stability, that security, where we feel completely settled, that is what matters most,” Moore shared her feelings.
Dream home unfinished
Moore recalled that when she and Taylor searched for their home in Altadena in the summer of 2020, they weren’t planning on moving anywhere else. But they realized this would be the place they would raise their children. Two weeks later, fate gave them another piece of good news—she was pregnant with their first child.
“It took us four years to make this house our dream home—restoring it, remodeling it, and making it completely ours. Jokingly, we bought it without kids, but when we moved in, we had two kids and a third on the way,” Moore shared. “We were just weeks away from moving in when the fire shattered our dreams.
Pain amid rays of hope
“I’m not saying any of this to make anyone feel more sorry for us than anyone else. As I said, I am grateful. We are so blessed,” Moore wrote. She also noted that her family has found a safe place to live, which is a blessing in these difficult times.
“But there are countless people in this city who, regardless of their jobs, social status, or anything else, in an instant lost the life they knew and trusted,” she said emotionally. “My whole heart is with them. Every single one of them. This place, our home, and this city was our dream—and I hope that in time it will feel that way again… just a little different.”
