The wildfires in Los Angeles, California, have resulted in 25 fatalities, thousands of displaced individuals, and millions at risk of losing their homes. This includes the case of Jessica Maldonado, a reporter for Telemundo. The journalist, who previously worked on the show ‘El Gordo y el Flaco’, became emotional while reporting live about the distressing moments she experienced with her family while fleeing from the fires. During the initial days of the wildfire, footage from the program ‘Al Rojo Vivo’ displayed the destruction of homes near Maldonado’s residence. The news team attempted to reach out to the reporter, who was unresponsive, leading many to fear for her safety. However, she later appeared live, expressing her anxiety over the potential loss of her home. The property adjacent to her house was completely destroyed, collapsing onto her residence, yet remarkably, her home remained intact. At that moment, she had to escape at night with her mother, who has limited mobility, and her pet.
After managing to escape safely, Jessica could not hold back her tears and shared with her colleagues on air: ‘It has been so difficult. I truly cannot describe in words what I had to live through; I have never experienced anything like this in my career.’ She continued, ‘I was with my little dog and my mom, who uses a walker. It has been one of the most terrifying experiences I have ever lived through. I didn’t even have time to grab my charger, which is why I got disconnected. I don’t know the condition of my house, but my mom and my dog are okay.’ This emotional account was delivered amidst the debris behind her.
Following this harrowing experience, several Latin celebrities, including Maná, Alejandro Fernández, and Patricia Manterola, extended their support to the journalist.
