Marissa Hermer, a prominent entrepreneur and former reality TV star, found herself amidst the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, forced to evacuate her Pacific Palisades home with her family. While on a hike, she spotted smoke billowing near her children’s school, triggering a frantic race against the encroaching flames. After retrieving her children, Hermer attempted to drive home but was thwarted by road closures. Undeterred, she parked and walked to her house, grabbing only essential items like passports, phones, and her children’s cherished stuffed animals in a heart-wrenching five-minute dash. The scene was apocalyptic, with blackened skies and the ominous glow of fire consuming the mountainsides surrounding her beachside community. Hermer, her British ex-pat husband Matt, and their three children sought refuge in a Laguna Beach hotel, her childhood haven, leaving behind the uncertainty of their home’s fate.
The wildfires, raging for four days, have wreaked havoc across Los Angeles, claiming at least ten lives and displacing nearly 180,000 residents. Hermer described the experience as terrifying, the flames seemingly at her back as she escaped her neighborhood. The reality of the situation, of potentially losing everything, was “mind-blowing.” Her home, nestled on the fireline between Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica, hangs precariously in the balance. The Hermer family, like countless others, faces an agonizing wait, caught between despair and the flickering ember of hope, clinging to the belief that their home, their community, will survive the inferno.
In the face of this devastating loss, Hermer and her husband, co-owners of the Cadogan restaurant group, have channeled their energy into helping others. Utilizing their two West Hollywood restaurants as hubs for relief efforts, they cook and deliver meals to displaced families, extending a lifeline to those who have lost everything. The “You Give, We Cook, They Eat” initiative, initially launched during the pandemic, has found renewed purpose amidst the fire crisis. Hermer, a former London-based PR professional and author of a cookbook, “An American Girl in London,” finds solace in contributing to the community, acknowledging that in times of crisis, sometimes all you can do is cook.
As the wildfires continue to burn, the Hermer family remains displaced, spending their third night in a hotel. The National Guard maintains a strict cordon around their neighborhood, allowing only firefighters access to battle the relentless blazes. Though there are glimmers of hope – easing winds and reinforcements for the exhausted crews – the situation remains precarious. Hermer oscillates between despair at the potential loss of their home and the vital need for hope, a sentiment echoed by many in her community. The knowledge that friends have already lost their homes adds another layer of anxiety to the already fraught situation.
Hermer’s experience underscores the devastating impact of the wildfires, not just on individual families, but on entire communities. The loss of homes, the displacement, the uncertainty – these are shared experiences that bind the affected residents together. Hermer’s story is a microcosm of the widespread devastation, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. Even as they grapple with their own losses, Hermer and her husband choose to give back, demonstrating the power of community in times of crisis.
Their restaurants have become beacons of hope, offering not just sustenance but a sense of connection and shared experience. Hermer’s commitment to helping others, even as she faces her own uncertain future, is a testament to the enduring strength and compassion of the human spirit. As the fires continue to burn, the Hermer family, like thousands of others, waits, hopes, and relies on the strength of their community to navigate the challenging days ahead. They exemplify the spirit of resilience and mutual support that emerges in the face of disaster, a spirit that will be crucial in rebuilding their lives and their community in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires.
