Kimmel said it was a “very scary, very stressful, very strange week here in L.A., where we work, where we live, where our kids go to school.”

Jimmy Kimmel returned to Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Monday night after wildfires in Los Angeles forced the show to halt production last week. Kimmel opened the episode by addressing the chaos and heartbreak caused by the fires, describing the past week as “very scary, very stressful, very strange” for the city he and his team call home.

Kimmel revealed that several members of his staff had to evacuate their homes, and some even lost everything. “Guillermo almost had to come live with me,” he joked, lightening the mood during the emotional monologue.

Amid the devastation, Kimmel highlighted the resilience and unity of Angelenos. “It’s been a sickening, shocking, awful experience, but it has also been, in a lot of ways, a beautiful experience because, once again, we see our fellow men and women coming together to support each other,” he said, praising the real-life heroes, including firefighters, who risked their lives to protect others.

Kimmel didn’t shy away from criticizing political figures who used the fires as an opportunity to score points or make divisive remarks. However, he chose to focus on gratitude for the first responders, saying, “That’s all we should be doing right now, and we should never stop thanking them.”

As the city grapples with recovery, Kimmel’s heartfelt remarks were a reminder of the power of community in the face of crisis.