NBC Reporter Jacob Soboroff Is Covering the Wildfires. Here’s the Loss—and Hope—He’s Seeing

It has been an unconscionably horrific time in Los Angeles as wildfires have destroyed communities. This past Tuesday, a colossal blaze ignited in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood between Malibu and Santa Monica—the Palisades Fire—and was soon followed by the Eaton fire in and around the Altadena neighborhood, the Hurst Fire, the Lidia Fire, the Sunset Fire, and others. At the time of writing this story on Saturday evening, at least 16 people have died from the wind-fed fires, a number expected to climb, and thousands have lost their homes.

NBC News correspondent Jacob Soboroff has been documenting and informing the world of the devastation from the ground. The veteran reporter has been with NBC since 2015 and has covered stories of immense gravity worldwide. Still, this one is deeply personal: Soboroff was born and raised in the Pacific Palisades. The childhood home where he grew up is now a pile of ashes, as is the home of his brother and those of countless friends.

"There is a bit of cognitive dissonance being back in my hometown as a reporter," Soboroff told The Sunday Paper on Friday morning, adding that his storytelling has been personal this week. "I'm a person too, and it's just... it's just awful. That is the truth."

When we spoke with Soboroff on the phone Friday morning, he was in the Pacific Palisades continuing his reporting as firefighters fought the blazes throughout the city. He told us what he's experienced and the symbols of hope he's found. "I feel really grateful to be surrounded by my NBC family," he said, "because everybody's hurting."

A CONVERSATION WITH JACOB SOBOROFF

In a story for NBC News this week, you documented how your former synagogue in the Palisades, one you attended with your family when you were young, is still standing, albeit surrounded by the fire devastation.

Just like the clergy were saying, a third of the congregants had lost their homes, and yet their spiritual home still stands. Honestly, I am not religious, but there is something very spiritual about going back there and knowing that in a non-denominational way, no matter your religion, that place is a real spiritual home for this community right now. It was very special to go back there.

You've come across many people who have lost their homes, including people you are close to. Tell us more about this and how you've been holding strength.

I'm devastated for every single person here. I can go through these streets with my eyes closed and remember every building, every corner, every shop, every restaurant, the street, the doctor's office, the recreation center, you name it—and so can all of them. So can all of them. So, every time I meet someone, I think of how we all share that. There's a real bond and a real kinship.

We cover awful things all the time. I've been to war zones and conflict areas, migration at the border, and gang-controlled territories. I'm bringing back some of the tools I've learned in all those places, and now I am putting them to use in my own community and hometown. It's just sad more than anything. I feel proud to be here and lucky to be here in this capacity because I know there are so many people eager to get back here who don't have that opportunity.

Jacob, there are countless people on the outside, some who have been impacted and some who have not. What do you want people to know?

[The Pacific Palisades] is a small town in a big city, and people with very close-knit relationships, and everybody's hurting. And this isn't the only part of Los Angeles that's going through this right now—other parts and people are hurting. I just hope everybody keeps everybody who's been a victim of what will be described as a literal firestorm in their thoughts and prayers because it will be a long recovery.

You can stay up-to-date on Jacob Soboroff's reporting on his Instagram and on NBCnews.com. And be sure to catch NBC's latest thorough report, Fire & Ash, here.

Jacob Soborof is an NBC News Political and National Correspondent, and the author of Separated: Inside an American Tragedy.