The recent Los Angeles wildfires have left a trail of devastation, displacing thousands and claiming lives. Among those affected is former CNN and CNBC anchor Nicole Lapin, who tragically lost her Pacific Palisades home in the blaze just weeks after giving birth to her daughter. Lapin shared her harrowing experience on Instagram, detailing the moments she fled her home with her newborn baby as flames approached.
Escaping the Inferno with “The Most Priceless Thing”
In an emotional video posted to Instagram, a visibly shaken Lapin recounted the terrifying moments leading up to her evacuation. She described going to the roof of her home, seeing the approaching flames, and making the split-second decision to flee with her three-week-old daughter. The 40-year-old finance journalist and New York Times bestselling author revealed that she left with “literally nothing” – no wallet, ID, passport, or even pictures.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(398×592:400×594)/Nicole-Lapin-ig-story-011425-2-aaa9da6fb52e43d6831be274fe7e25a7.jpg)
Despite the immense loss, Lapin expressed profound gratitude for escaping with her family unharmed. Looking down at her daughter in the video, she acknowledged that they had escaped with the “most valuable and most priceless” thing of all: family. The devastating fires forced over 150,000 Los Angeles residents to evacuate, leaving a path of destruction and claiming at least 24 lives with dozens still missing. Lapin’s story highlights the personal tragedies unfolding amidst the widespread disaster.
A Community Rallies Around Nicole Lapin
In the aftermath of the fire, Lapin has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from friends and the community. She expressed gratitude for the “help and support” received, stating that it has made all the difference in what has been an otherwise “pure horror.” Currently staying in temporary housing with her family, Lapin has not yet returned to the site of her former home. While her “brand new” studio is likely destroyed or unusable, she remains focused on the well-being of her family and the support she has received.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(398×592:400×594)/Nicole-Lapin-ig-story-011425-2-aaa9da6fb52e43d6831be274fe7e25a7.jpg)
Lapin’s story underscores the strength of community in times of crisis. She acknowledged the depth of support she’s received, saying, “The friends and the community — I didn’t even realize how deep it was. We didn’t realize.” This outpouring of assistance is vital for victims navigating the challenging process of rebuilding their lives after such a devastating event.
From Tragedy to Advocacy: Lapin’s Promise to Help Others
While acknowledging her own fortunate situation compared to others who lost everything, Lapin expressed a desire to use her platform to help those affected by the fires. The host of the biweekly podcast Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin promised to “ask questions of companies” and “get all of our questions answered” as more information about the fires emerges.
She committed to sharing resources that helped her through the process of rebuilding and encouraged other victims to reach out with questions. Lapin’s commitment to using her platform for advocacy demonstrates the power of influence in providing support and information to those in need. She ended her post with a call to action, inviting anyone who lost their home in the fire to share their questions and concerns, promising to find answers and resources to help them rebuild. Lapin’s proactive approach to helping others highlights the importance of community support and information sharing in the aftermath of a disaster. For those wanting to assist victims of the Los Angeles wildfires, resources and information on how to donate and volunteer are readily available online.
