AceShowbiz - Mel Gibson, 69, recounted his harrowing experience of discovering his Malibu mansion had burned to the ground while he was away filming Joe Rogan's podcast in Austin, Texas. The Oscar-winning actor shared his emotional journey during an interview on NewsNation's Elizabeth Vargas Reports, painting a vivid picture of the impact the wildfires have had on him and his community.

"Obviously, it's kind of devastating. It's emotional," Gibson began. "I was doing the Rogan podcast… And [I was] kind of ill at ease while we were talking, because I knew my neighbourhood was on fire, so I thought, I wonder if my place is still there. But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn't there. I went home and I said to myself, 'well, at least I haven't got any of those pesky plumbing problems anymore.' "

Gibson tried to sell the mansion for years, even knocking $3 million off the listing price, but tragically lost many personal items to the flames. "I had a lot of personal things there that, you know, I can't get back… "

All kinds of stuff, everything from photographs to files to, you know, you know, just personal things that I had from over the years, and clothing, you know, pretty cool stuff, you know, but you know that can all be replaced. These are only things. And the good, the good news is that, you know, those in my family and those I love are all well, and we're all happy and healthy and out of harm's way, that's all I can care about, really."

The actor also shared his critical views on California's governor, Gavin Newsom, for failing to properly manage the state's forests. He highlighted the need for better fire prevention measures and maintenance, criticizing that the funds intended for these purposes weren't being utilized effectively.

"I think Newsom said, 'I'm gonna take care of the forest and maintain the forest and do all that kinda stuff' - he didn't do anything," Gibson said. He even joked that "all our tax dollars probably went to Gavin's hair gel."

Despite the devastation, Gibson is not homeless, as he owns another property in Costa Rica. Reflecting on the ongoing fires and whether it would prompt him to leave California, he commented, "I've got a place in Costa Rica - I love it there."

The catastrophic fires that continue to ravage Los Angeles have left thousands of residents displaced and entire streets obliterated. With firefighters facing extreme conditions and a city grappling with recovery, Mel's story is a personal glimpse into the broader impact of these natural disasters.