Ali MacGraw Reflects on 1993 Malibu Fire, Urges Compassion Amid LA Wildfires

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Actress Ali MacGraw, best known for her role in the 1970 film “Love Story,” is sharing her story of resilience after losing her Malibu home in the devastating 1993 wildfires. Now 85 and living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, MacGraw reflects on the lessons she learned from the disaster and offers advice to those affected by recent wildfires in Los Angeles.

“When it happened to me, I lost everything,” MacGraw told The Hollywood Reporter. “The sleazy little outfit I had on for yoga was literally all I owned after the fire.” The 1993 Malibu fires burned 18,000 acres over 10 days, destroying 350 homes, including MacGraw’s rental in the Rambla Pacifico neighborhood. She described the scene as “like a movie,” with the sky filled with smoke and the ocean churning below.

MacGraw, who had lived in Malibu since the 1970s, said the fire forced her to reevaluate her life. “I heard this message: It’s time for you to get out of Los Angeles,” she recalled. “I burst out laughing and thought, ‘Wow, isn’t there a subtler way to make that suggestion?'” Despite the loss, MacGraw remained calm, a trait she attributes to her sobriety and personal growth. “I never cried. I never carried on,” she said. “I was stone-cold calm.”

After the fire, MacGraw moved to Santa Fe, where she has lived for 32 years. She urged those affected by recent wildfires to show compassion and kindness. “The more people behave with kindness and generosity, the better off we will be,” she said. “I would like to hope that anybody with any sort of empty dwelling feels inclined to offer it up to help these people.”

MacGraw also emphasized the importance of community support during times of crisis. “Now is an amazing time for people to reach out,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be enormous, even the smallest gesture makes a world of difference.”

Reflecting on her life now, MacGraw said she has found peace in Santa Fe. “I’m a strange old bird at this point,” she joked. “I live north of Santa Fe, kind of in nature, and I’m very involved with the community. I’m blessed to be in good health. And I know so many people who don’t have that choice. I have a life that makes me happy.”