On Thursday morning, Madison Bisharat hiked from Santa Monica to the Pacific Palisades with her dad and boyfriend to check on her childhood home. With the roads closed, this was their only hope of seeing what remained of their house.
All they brought with them for the journey were N95 masks, goggles, gloves, a shovel, backpacks and enough water for the day. “We scaled fences, climbed through burning hills, and even got blisters on the bottoms of our feet,” the 31-year-old singer-songwriter tells PEOPLE exclusively.
To reach their house, Bisharat, along with her dad, Charlie, 61, and boyfriend had to trespass.
“There was only one small street not being patrolled. We knew about it because we’ve been locals for over 30 years. We hiked up a horse ranch area and climbed through hills to get there. It was terrifying — our hearts were racing, and our hands were shaking. But it was worth it to find out what had happened.”
Courtesy of Madi Rindge Bisharat
After hours of hiking, Bisharat and her family finally reached their street. But when they turned the corner, they saw that the house — where her dad and younger brother had been living— was completely gone.
“I lost it,” says Bisharat, who currently lives in East Hollywood. “I thought I could stay strong for my dad and brother, but I couldn’t hold it together. I’ve never felt loss like that.”
“The house held so many memories,” she adds. “Some of my favorite memories from that house growing up include learning to ride a bike in the cul-de-sac, singing with friends in the backyard, hosting house shows, tasting my brother’s new recipes, and having family over for home-cooked meals.”
“It felt surreal — I was in shock, and I still am,” she continues. “The devastation, heartbreak, and confusion are overwhelming. It’s hard to process it all. So many childhood memories flooded back, and I realized just how much those places meant to me. Losing the physical spaces that hold your most cherished memories is something you can’t fully prepare for.”
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Courtesy of Madi Rindge Bisharat
In the midst of everything, Bisharat recorded a video of herself running toward the house, which she later posted on TikTok. The video has since gone viral, amassing more than 435,000 views and 1,100 comments.
In the video, Bisharat shakily holds the camera, breathing heavily. When she sees what’s left of her childhood home, she breaks down in tears.
“The reason we made the dangerous trek to the house was to get answers — not just for us, but for my brother and childhood friends who were also desperate to know if their homes had survived,” she says. “As I filmed our walk, I didn’t expect it to capture such an emotional moment.”
“I want to share the raw, emotional reality of losing the only home I’ve ever known,” she continues. “But I also hope it helps others who are still searching for answers about the status of their homes. It’s been a way for me to process the loss and offer some support to those going through something similar.”
Bisharat tells PEOPLE she’s lived in Los Angeles her entire life, and while she’s experienced wildfires before, she’s never witnessed anything as heartbreaking as the current fires, which have claimed 24 lives and displaced thousands.
When she first heard about the fires last Tuesday, she says she was at work. To be safe, she called her family to check in, but when she couldn’t reach her dad, she started to panic.
“I finally got in touch with my neighbor, Archie, who told me that he, his dad Val, a few friends, and my dad were on the roof of our house using firefighter-grade hoses to protect our property. They couldn’t talk long,” she recalls.
Courtesy of Madi Rindge Bisharat
When evacuation orders were eventually issued, Bisharat worried her brother and dad wouldn’t evacuate in time and might get trapped while trying to save the house. While she tried to stay calm, she says she eventually broke down at work and had to leave.
It wasn’t until later that night that she got a text from her dad saying he was safe. He came to stay with her and her boyfriend on their couch in East Hollywood.
Courtesy of Madi Rindge Bisharat
But as for the house, “unfortunately, almost nothing was recoverable,” she says. “My dad and brother lost nearly everything. My dad managed to grab his computer, violin, and passport when evacuating. He also got a few things for my brother, but that’s about it.”
“Right now, I’m staying in my apartment with my boyfriend in East Hollywood, and we’re hosting my dad. It feels like time has frozen. We’ve been focused on getting him the basics — food, a bed, clothes. My cousins helped by gathering essentials like T-shirts, socks, toiletries and luggage. They also created a GoFundMe for my family.”
Courtesy of Madi Rindge Bisharat
Bisharat adds how that, at the moment, the family is figuring out the next steps for where her dad and brother will live long-term.
“The rebuilding process is uncertain, especially since the land in the Palisades is toxic and uninhabitable. There’s no water, no electricity, no grocery stores — it’s going to be a long road ahead.”
“I’m just so grateful that everyone is safe,” she adds. “The support has been overwhelming. People I haven’t spoken to in years are showing up, even though they’re also dealing with their own losses. It’s shown me the power of love, kindness, and community. I hope this spirit continues beyond just this disaster.”
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