Zooey and Emily Deschanel’s Childhood Home Burns Down in Palisades Fire: 'A Sanctuary Where We Felt Most Safe'

Mar. 15, 2025

Zooey Deschanel and Emily Deschanel and their childhood home.Photo:Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; Zooey Deschanel/Instagram

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; Zooey Deschanel/Instagram

TheNew Girlstar, who turned 45 on Friday, Jan. 17, penned a heartfelt tribute to the “marvel” of her home, which was a 1920s Spanish revival and “one of the oldest homes in the Palisades.” The actress reflected how the “spectacularly beautiful” home was “full of too many incredible memories to count.”

“The family photos that lined the hallways, the artwork, the piano I learned to play on, the wedding china, the furniture my great great grandfather built… the reminders of generations past: All have vanished into thin air,” she wrote.

Zooey Deschanel and Emily Deschanel’s childhood home.Zooey Deschanel/Instagram

Zooey Deschanel/Instagram

The500 Days of Summeractress thanked those who supported the communities and L.A.: “To the firefighters who have been working around the clock to keep everyone safe: You are our true heroes.”

She also thanked her friends who have supported their family. “You have sent clothes to my parents who left with nothing, you have distracted us with humor and you have cried with us when we needed.” She continued, “Your kindness is the salve that has made this bearable.”

Zooey expressed her gratitude to “the strangers who have lifted our spirits with kind gestures: you are the true meaning of community.” Adding, “Thank you all for showing us the goodness in your hearts. You have no idea how much it means to us.”

Caleb Deschanel, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Jo Deschanel and Emily Deschanel at their childhood home.Zooey Deschanel/Instagram

Along with sharing the personal history of her home, Zooey posted photos of the home before and after it was destroyed. She included a photo of her and her sister Emily with their parents, Caleb and Mary Jo Deschanel.

Zooey added a photo of herself and Emily eating together in the family kitchen and concluded the carousel with a photo of her daughter,Elsie, with Emily.

Representatives for Zooey and Emily Deschanel did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for a comment on Friday.

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Zooey Deschanel and Emily Deschanel in their childhood home.Zooey Deschanel/Instagram

Thedestructive Palisades Firefirst began in the L.A. neighborhood of Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and has since burned more than 23,700 acres with 31% containment, according to theLos Angeles County Fire Department.

On the other side of L.A. County, the Eaton Fire also began on Tuesday, Jan. 7 and has already burned more than 14,000 acres and is now 65% contained. Additional fires have also sprung up around the Southern California region, challenging responders.

Click hereto learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.

source: people.com