Studio Veteran Mia Ammer Details ‘Pure Chaos’ of Escaping Wildfire as She Mourns Enormous Loss in Pacific Palisades: ‘No Better Place to Raise a Family’

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Mia Ammer had previously participated in numerous fire drills. Over a ten-year span, this experienced Hollywood publicist resided in Pacific Palisades with her children, and fires from the neighboring hills were a recurring concern for their home. Notably, “fire had never crossed Sunset Boulevard to endanger our community,” she remarked.

However, a catastrophic fire event occurred on January 7th, as flames swept through her picturesque neighborhood, located just north of Santa Monica and bordering the western edge of Los Angeles. The Palisades Fire, coupled with the destructive Eaton Fire to the east that wreaked havoc in Altadena and certain areas of northern Pasadena, presented a live, terrifying spectacle of wildfire devastation that has been broadcast globally through continuous news updates.

At the home she bought on Bienveneda Avenue in 2015, near the site of the Palisades Charter High School that is now flattened (where the movie “Carrie” was filmed in 1976), only two doorways and a part of Ammer’s fireplace still stand. Tragically, inside this house were irreplaceable scrapbooks and the remains of her late husband, renowned film marketing executive Geoff Ammer, who passed away unexpectedly 13 years ago. This was the third time Ammer had to start over completely.

Ammer confided in EbMaster that this was the one thing he treasured most. There were memory albums filled with photos and heartfelt letters from friends, expressing their feelings about Geoff. This was all Ammer ever wanted his children to have, but unfortunately, it’s no longer there. ‘His ashes were kept there,’ Ammer explained, ‘It’s where he belongs.’

A longtime acquaintance of the family retrieved a vintage sweater that once belonged to Geoff, following his passing in 2012 at the age of 62. This friend later handed over the sweeter to Geoff Ammer Jr., Mia’s 19-year-old son, during a visit home from UC Santa Barbara on Saturday. Since then, Geoff Jr. has kept the sweater on him continuously.

Ammer narrates a tale that mirrors the ordeal endured by many residents around here over the past week. She has experienced “fear,” “dumbfoundedness,” and “utter disbelief” as she witnessed her home vanish in brief clips from cell phones.

She expressed that we’ve faced numerous fire alerts, yet it’s hard to fully comprehend the severity. My house has always been safe from danger. Most of my neighbors shared this sentiment – we would simply return. This is likely why so many people left their homes with only the clothes on their backs. The Palisades fire is an extraordinary economic and ecological disaster, but Ammer emphasized that it’s primarily a housing crisis, unless you’re extraordinarily wealthy.

On the day a fire erupted, Ammer was employed as the Vice President of Corporate Entertainment at PR firm Sunshine, Sachs, Morgan & Lylis. She is recognized and appreciated for her efficiency and likeability in corporate communications, having previously worked for studios such as Sony Pictures Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, and Paramount Pictures. It was only Annie, Ammer’s daughter, who was present at the Bienveneda house when the fire alerts intensified.

Ammer stated that he called her 27 times, which triggered the alerts to wake her up. He quickly listed some items she should grab, and she left the house with just a hoodie and our passports. Annie, a student at Palisades High, found herself stuck in traffic as soon as she fled. She luckily knew a quick route from her school that helped her bypass stranded vehicles and the chaotic scene of evacuation. People were seen driving on the incorrect sides of the street.

On January 8th, Ammer’s house endured the night but later caught fire, along with the entire neighborhood. The day after, Ammer, her partner Erik Logan, a former CEO of World Surf League and co-president of Oprah Winfrey’s OWN television network, along with their children, went to inspect the ruins of their home.

Our residence was situated near a townhouse, and it was filled with scattered remnants. The safe within my wardrobe had shattered due to an explosion. Everything was missing. We stumbled upon a ceramic bear that Annie crafted in school, as well as the doorknob from her bedroom,” she explained.

Ammer and her daughter have moved into Logan’s residence at Manhattan Beach. She expressed that she frequently sheds tears due to the heartwarming way this community has rallied together. Sunshine Sachs has shown exceptional support during this time. Specifically, Constance Schwartz-Morini from SMAC quickly delivered a box of clothes for Ammer’s daughter. The kindness and generosity displayed have been truly touching. I feel incredibly humbled by it all, and it restores hope in humanity.

Ammer expressed that she wouldn’t have made it through after losing her husband if not for the supportive friends and community members in Palisades who acted like her own village. In response, these neighbors have set up a charitable aid program to help her family.

She stated, “This place stood out because there was nowhere else more suitable for nurturing a family.” She added, “The Palisades community was invaluable to me. I’m not sure I could have made it through without their help, especially when it came to transporting my children to school.

Despite the challenges we’re facing now, Ammer finds comfort in the fact that his neighbors and friends are moving to L.A.’s South Bay region and maintaining their bond.

Many families have relocated to the area south of Hermosa and Manhattan Beach, often referred to as the South Bay. It seems we’re in a process of renewal here, according to her statement. She acknowledged that not everyone shares this good fortune.

In the photo at the top, you can see Erik Logan, Mia Ammer, Geoff Ammer Jr., and Annie Ammer examining what’s left of their house in Pacific Palisades. The picture was taken by Bo Bridges.

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2025-01-13 04:16