**Jamie Chung Faces Fires with Resilience: A Year of Loss and Growth**
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Actress Jamie Chung has recently shared her experiences of coping with the devastating impacts of wildfires, as both her family home in California and their residence in Atlanta were affected by fire in a span of just one year. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Chung, 40, recounted the traumatic events that have pushed her to learn valuable lessons in crisis management, underscoring her family’s resilience amid adversity.
In January 2025, Chung and her husband, Bryan Greenberg, experienced the heartache of losing their home during the catastrophic wildfires that swept through areas like Pacific Palisades and Pasadena. Fast forward to the summer of the following year, and the couple faced yet another blaze when their home in Atlanta caught fire. “There was a big fire on the roof and a lot of people evacuated,” Chung explained ahead of her keynote address at StyleWeekOC, held in partnership with the Newport Beach Film Festival on October 16.
Although Chung’s apartment is currently uninhabitable due to the damage, she was thankful that her family escaped unscathed. “It was just quite traumatic having to deal with all that again,” Chung admitted, reflecting on the emotional toll of her experiences. “And it wasn’t as bad, luckily. No one was hurt, no one was killed. That’s what matters.”
Despite the difficulties, Chung noted that her relationship with Greenberg has strengthened through these challenges. She proudly shared that she has taken on a leadership role during crises. “Honestly, I’m the one that’s better with logistics when it comes to a crisis that we’ve experienced,” she remarked. Chung emphasised the importance of maintaining composure in such testing times, stating that focusing on family and health should remain paramount.
In the wake of losing their home, Chung found herself overwhelmed with the intricacies of dealing with logistics such as insurance, paperwork, and legal matters. She candidly expressed how initially losing sight of what was truly important had added to her anxiety. “I lost focus of what was important and I got so overwhelmed by the logistics,” she lamented. “Getting all my paperwork in order, dealing with the insurance – it felt endless.”
The actress also mentioned the support she received from other fire victims, who shared their insight on navigating the recovery process. This generosity from the community has been a guiding light during trying times. With newfound knowledge, Chung has also delved into studying the history of their neighbourhood and potential future safety measures, seeking to inform herself about protecting her family against similar instances.
In these challenging times, Chung’s five-year-old twin boys have served as her source of comfort and perspective. “They have kept me grounded and present,” she explained. Their innocent joys, like learning to read or sharing a joke, have helped Chung focus on what truly matters. “Those kind of things are way more important,” she said, reflecting on how her children have kept her anchored.
Amidst these difficulties, Chung is set to bring some festive cheer to audiences with her upcoming holiday film, *The Holiday Spark*, which premieres on November 2 on The Roku Channel. The movie features Joey Graziadei and follows the story of a single firefighter named Dean, who enlists the help of children’s book illustrator Laura, played by Chung, to create a memorable holiday party at his firehouse. As the two characters collaborate, they are led to reassess their views on romance and the concept of love at first sight.
As Jamie Chung prepares to embrace the holiday spirit with her latest project, her journey over the past year serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit, showcasing the importance of family and community in the face of life’s greatest challenges.