‘The Office’ Star Rainn Wilson Reveals That He Nearly Lost His Entire Home in A Mountain Fire

Actor, comedian and climate activist Rainn Wilson recently revealed that he’s experienced the consequences of extreme drought and environmental devastation firsthand.

Back on the morning of November 6th, a wildfire started in Ventura County, California that swiftly spread due to the strong Santa Ana winds sweeping across the region. Over the next 22 days, the fire would destroy 243 buildings, damage another 127 and cause injuries to 10 people, including one firefighter. Among the affected population from the area’s first mountain fire in over 50 years were Wilson and his wife, author Holiday Reinhorn, whose “Wilson-Reinhorn Farm” barely survived the blaze with severe damage to the entire structure.

Wilson walked through the wreckage of his home in an Instagram video that he posted to his own account and to the page for the science communication group and environmental activism organization Climate Basecamp, in which he thanked the firefighters who prevented total destruction and expressed his heartbreak for those less fortunate:

In the caption of the original video, the star of The Office wrote, “We are some of the luckiest people in Ventura County. The mountain fire was absolutely devastating and two of our closest neighbors completely lost their houses. So grateful and appreciative of the amazing firemen and rescue workers that saved our house!!!” 

Wilson was thankful that Reinhorn was able to evacuate along with the couple’s many animals, but he also emphasized how fires like the one that devastated his community shouldn’t be seen as random disasters.

“First one to hit our community in well over 50 years. Increased drought and extreme weather due to climate change is accelerating these events like nobody’s business. Prayers for the good Venturans devastated by this terrible event,” Wilson wrote, and he urged his followers to donate to the California Fire Foundation, a nonprofit devoted to supporting firefighters, their families and the communities they protect.

In a follow-up video posted to the page of his spirituality podcast Soul Boom, Wilson showed the results of his clean-up efforts and asked his followers to help find lessons and meaning in the destruction:

“Amid the ashes is sometimes is where we best reflect on what truly holds value in our lives. In moments of loss, what lessons have you discovered about what matters most?” Wilson asked his followers. 

In the responses, fans shared their own stories of devastation, loss, hope and faith, as many of them had also lost homes due to disaster. In all responses, Wilson's fans emphasized the importance of family, health and safety above material concerns, and they stressed the value of gratitude during such trying times.

Of course, there were also plenty of Office fans in Wilson’s replies who tried to find the fittingly poor-taste and poorly timed humor in such a dark situation. Wrote one of the top commenters, “Ryan started the fire.”