Tori Spelling revealed what she had grabbed during the chaotic evacuation from her home amid the deadly L.A. wildfires with her ‘panicked’ five children and beloved pets.
The TV personality, 51 — who previously opened up about fleeing the Kenneth Fire last week — further reflected on the experience during the new episode of her MisSpelling podcast on Friday.
The catastrophic infernos began last week on Tuesday in the Pacific Palisades, and have destroyed over 12,000 structures — with the death toll now at 27, per CBS News.
‘When we evacuated and fled, we just literally, we did the best we could, I would say, in 30 minutes or less,’ the star expressed to her listeners.
‘In 30 minutes or less, we packed up six lives and three animals… I don’t know how we did it, honestly.’
Her daughter Stella, 16 — whom Tori labeled as her ‘co-parent’ — assisted her siblings Liam, 17, Hattie, 13, Finn, 12, and Beau, seven, to quickly pack what they could. She notably shares her kids with ex Dean McDermott.
Tori Spelling, 51, revealed what she had grabbed during the chaotic evacuation from her home amid the deadly L.A. wildfires with her ‘panicked’ five children and beloved pets
Spelling admitted that once she was in her closet, she ‘froze’ and said, ‘Here’s me, self-professed hoarder my whole life, and…it could be gone. In the moment, I was like, “I don’t know what to take.”‘
Tori shared that she took a DIY Los Angeles shirt that she was already wearing and a 1985 jacket from her private elementary school.
She also swiftly took a seashell that was from her uncle, as well as crystals for ‘good energy’ and her contacts.
‘I’d rather my kids grab things they want than me,’ she said, and added that there was not enough space in the vehicle to put any suitcases.
‘Who cares about me? … I looked down at my Louboutin’s and my Balenciaga shoes, and I said, “What does it matter?”‘
Spelling also grabbed pet food, water and family photos before heading to the car which was ‘stuffed’ full and small arguments ‘started breaking out.’
‘I said, “Listen, everyone has a different way of handling things and what’s important to them. If we can get it in the car, let’s get it in the car,’ she continued.
‘We packed everyone in. Everyone was saying, “I can’t move. I can’t breathe.” And my daughter said, “Mom, you’re not gonna be able to see out the back.”‘
‘When we evacuated and fled, we just literally, we did the best we could, I would say, in 30 minutes or less,’ the star expressed to her listeners
Her daughter Stella, 16 — whom Tori labeled as her ‘co-parent’ — assisted her siblings Liam, 17, Hattie, 13, Finn, 12, and Beau, seven, to quickly pack what they could. She notably shares her kids with ex Dean McDermott
‘I mean, I don’t even know how we got ourselves packed into that car. It was like Tetris on the next level — and not in a good way. It was just jammed in,’ the Beverly Hills, 90210 actress recalled.
As Tori and her family left their home, she remembers ‘driving right into the fire’ while heading to an Airbnb.
‘I looked and we could see the fire. And all of a sudden, smoke was coming through the vents, and I said to the kids, “Everyone grab a t-shirt.”‘
‘And I said, “Put it over your mouth, hold your breath, and we’re driving right through it.” And they were panicked,’ Tori added of the frightening moment.
‘As we were literally driving on the freeway, my kids covering their faces with T-shirts and holding their breath, I couldn’t help but think like, “God. I’ve seen this movie.”‘
The actress continued, ‘But we drove through. We drove past it. The kids were able to breathe again.’
While the star’s home survived the fires, her mother Candy Spelling’s $23 million Malibu beach house was destroyed.
She told TMZ, ‘I’m in shock and processing this massive loss for our family. I am beyond grateful for the memories. It was truly a wonderful gift to have.’
Tori shared that she took a DIY Los Angeles shirt that she was already wearing and a 1985 jacket from her private elementary school; seen in December 2024 in L.A.
While the star’s home survived the fires, her mother Candy Spelling’s $23 million Malibu beach house was destroyed; Tori and her mom seen above
A number of residents and celebrities lost their homes in the fires, including Miles Teller, Billy Crystal, Jeff Bridges, Paris Hilton, Tina Knowles, Joshua Jackson and Anthony Hopkins.
Last week, Tori also shared an emotional and harrowing account of her family’s home evacuation on Instagram.
In the heart-wrenching post, Tori admitted that she had been avoiding addressing the the fires on social media, feeling that the space was already filled with ‘amazing kindness, sorrowful loss, helpful shares, and pleas.’
But, when her and her five children were forced to evacuate their Woodland Hills rental home, she could no longer remain silent.
‘The post I didn’t want to have to do… days of watching destruction and monitoring and living in fear,’ she penned in the lengthy caption.
‘I haven’t posted or shared bc social media was saturated. amazing kindness , sorrowful loss, helpful shares, and pleas. I didn’t want to be redundant.’
‘But, last night we were evacuated. I tried my best to hang in there and not just flee to flee but we had too finally. My hearts are w/everyone who have lost and suffered so much. But, as a mama bear w/5 kiddos & fur babies your gut tells you when it’s time to take action.’
The Dancing with the Stars alum also revealed that despite being encouraged to evacuate sooner by pals, she did not take immediate action — which she now regrets, urging others to not make the same mistake.
She continued: ‘And, all the amazing apps and LIVES that have been keeping us updated. In a SUV me and 5 kids, 3 large dogs, 1 cat, and a ferret left unplanned. Friends who care, told me for days to pack and have a plan. I should have listened.’
The star then revealed that she, her children and furry friends fled the area with no idea where to go, but a pal with connections to Airbnb set them up with temporary housing.
Last week, Tori also shared an emotional and harrowing account of her family’s home evacuation on Instagram; taken of the Kenneth Fire on January 9
‘The post I didn’t want to have to do… days of watching destruction and monitoring and living in fear,’ she penned in the lengthy caption
Tori added, ‘I fit us all in barely. No clothes. But grabbed photo albums. And fled. In a non planned panic I reached out to my friend I made recently Jami Schwartz.’
‘She had mentioned at Iheart jingle ball in December she works with @airbnb .i knew it was a long shot but as I just drove my kids onto the 101 N with no plan she responded! @airbnb saved us!’
‘Literally! They stepped in and found something to house our massive family and pets and same night. Jami and Taylor I will forever be grateful! With terrified kids and one w/terrible asthma…I drove.’
Describing the daunting journey, Tori recalled how her children questioned her decision making at the time as he she appeared to drive right into the inferno.
With smoke seeping through the vents of their car, Tori urged her kids to cover their faces before proceeding to speed her family to safety.
She said: ‘My kids said “Mom. You sure we should go this way? Freeway is standstill other direction. We are headed right into the fires.”‘
‘Indeed we were. Mother instinct took over and I pressed on north on 101. As we drove literally thru it and smoke coming thru car vents… I told my children to take a deep breath and hold and put T-shirts over their noses and mouths.’
Thanks to Tori’s connections at Airbnb’s, she and her youngsters found a place to stay that Tori described as featuring a koi pond and a monarch butterfly sanctuary
She went on, ‘I said then “This is scary but hopeful. We will drive thru it and past. It will be ok. I promise you all” We pressed on. Leaving behind a burning LA. Indeed we were ok. We are some of the lucky ones. It looked and felt like a movie I’d seen too many times.’
Thanks to Tori’s connections at Airbnb’s, she and her youngsters found a place to stay that Tori described as featuring a koi pond and a monarch butterfly sanctuary.
Since February of 2024, the blonde vixen has lived in a two-story, five-bedroom, three-bath home in Woodland Hills, California, with her children.
She moved to the rental home after going public with her divorce from her husband of 17 years, Dean McDermott.
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