Tracy Droz Tragos, the documentarian behind the film "Rebuilding Paradise," has experienced firsthand the devastation of losing everything in a wildfire. Her Pacific Palisades home was consumed by the Palisades Fire on January 7th, forcing her family to evacuate quickly, taking nothing with them.

Having documented the aftermath of the 2018 Camp Fire, Droz Tragos understood the urgency of evacuation. She told The Hollywood Reporter she initially thought the evacuation was a "dry run" and admitted, "You really don’t think it’s going to happen to you." Now staying in an Airbnb near her family in Santa Barbara, she described the loss to the outlet: "An entire community, wiped off the face of the Earth. And it’s not just your house – it’s your neighbor’s house. It’s the park you used to walk in… It’s the place you got coffee. Where your kid goes to school. All of it."

Droz Tragos's experience documenting the Camp Fire proved invaluable. She recalled neighbors questioning her decision to grab toilet paper during the evacuation, to which she replied, "Trust me, you may find yourself in a situation without a bathroom, and you’ll really wish you had toilet paper.'"

While the Pacific Palisades is known as an affluent area, Droz Tragos emphasized the diversity of the community, noting its multigenerational families and the inclusive environment of the local high school. She lamented the loss of community hubs like the library, grocery store, and even the location of the annual 4th of July parade. A sign in a now-destroyed barbershop captured the essence of the neighborhood, proclaiming: "if you’re rich you live in Beverly Hills and if you’re famous you live in Malibu and if you’re lucky you live in Pacific Palisades."

Droz Tragos has been sharing updates on her situation via Instagram, expressing her shift from "survival mode" to the daunting task of rebuilding. She has also poignantly reflected on the irreplaceable sentimental items lost, from everyday mugs to cherished family heirlooms.

The 2018 Camp Fire, the subject of Droz Tragos’s documentary, is also the focus of an upcoming film, "The Lost Bus," produced by Jamie Lee Curtis's Comet Pictures and Jason Blum's Blumhouse. Based on Lizzie Johnson’s book, the film will tell the story of a bus driver and teacher who rescued 22 children during the fire. Matthew McConaughey is reportedly in talks to star.

The Palisades Fire, which began on January 7th, was one of several that ignited in the Los Angeles area, causing widespread destruction and displacement.