The recent wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles and much of California have been an unforgettable tragedy as the region and the community try to grapple with the inedible mark these wildfires have left behind. And Mina Kimes is trying to do her part in aiding the recovery.
Few people have been spared from the calamity, and a large subsection of sports media has also been profoundly affected. We saw people like Bill Simmons of The Ringer reflect on the “pain” and ” heartbreak” that the sheer devastation from these fires has caused.
And beyond Simmons, several of his colleagues in the industry have been outspoken about what they’ve lost and how it’s affected them. That includes ESPN’s Mina Kimes, who saw her and her family be affected by the flames that have consumed vast swaths of Los Angeles County and claimed the lives of 28 as of Friday afternoon.
For Kimes, she shared on The Dan Le Batard Show during an appearance nearly two weeks ago just how the disaster has hit home in a profoundly personal way.
And now she’s trying to give back.
Displaced by the fires, she took refuge in a friend’s guest room, describing the experience as “absolutely surreal.” She attempted to share the emotional toll with her friends and colleagues at Meadowlark Media, as the fire(s) have spared no one, including Kimes and her family.
The day before the episode was recorded, Kimes shared that her husband and infant child were forced to seek shelter in the aforementioned friend’s guest room. Her personal home was just a stone’s throw from the second fire on the east side of Los Angeles.
“It’s just been absolutely surreal,” Kimes explained. “My son’s friend’s house burned to the ground; everybody in their neighborhood lost their houses. It’s just friends, family friends, people we know, just up in flames. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.”
Despite the overwhelming devastation, Kimes chooses to turn her grief into action.
🚨Exciting news 🚨
I am hosting a live pod in LA to raise money for wildfire relief here. A bunch of pals are joining me with more to come!
Mon Feb 3
Belasco TheaterPlease share and send to LA based folks 👇https://t.co/uSqgUkPi6m pic.twitter.com/2ew6hJwypS
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 24, 2025
On Friday, Mina Kimes announced plans to host a live podcast with her dog, Lenny, in Los Angeles to raise money for wildfire relief. Joining her for the event will be a group of friends and colleagues, including Chris Ryan, Andy Greenwald, Gregg Rosenthal and Jourdan Rodrigue with reportedly more names expected to be added.
Tickets for the event on Monday, Feb. 3, at the Belasco Theater are $50. All proceeds benefit the American Red Cross.