Hollywood producer in tears as he returns to destroyed Malibu 'dream home' amid LA fires

Writer-producer Max Borenstein returned to the remains of his Malibu house, which burned down in the recent LA fire, in an emotional segment broadcast on KTLA Sunday.

'This is my house,' the Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty executive producer said. 'I didn't take anything and I didn't think it could happen because, who does?'

KTLA reporter Courtney Friel posted footage from the segment, in which Borenstein surveyed the ruins of the waterfront home.

'Thank you @maxborenstein for being so vulnerable and allowing me to document the entire process of returning back to your home,' Friel said. 'I'm so sorry you and your PCH dog beach community in Malibu lost everything in the #PalisadesFire.'

Friel said that 'sadly there are going to be thousands of stories like this in LA.'

In the segment, Borenstein - whose producer credits include the TV shows Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and The Terror - walked around the remains of the home, and spoke about his affinity for the community.

'This is a place that people have lived their whole lives - for 40 years, so many of my neighbors - I had three years here,' Borenstein said.

Borenstein said, 'It's a beautiful community,' adding that 'people call it dog beach' because everyone had their dogs playing off-leash in a nearby cove.

Borenstein opened up about the life experiences he remembered during his three years in the home.

'I've gone through loss here and grief here and everyone on this stretch has and is going through that now,' he said. 'But you look out at the ocean everyday and it reminds you of the beauty of the world.

'I would do anything I could do to rebuild here, and I hope we're allowed.'

Borenstein took a Pellegrino bottle that survived the blaze, with intent to use it as the focal point of an art piece.

'I'm gonna take this because it the only thing from this house that I loved so much,' Borenstein said.

Borenstein also has multiple credits as a writer, having penned the films Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Kong, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Hypnotic.

Officials Monday said the death toll had reached at least 24 people, according to the AP, adding that the total number of victims was expected to increase amid ongoing missing persons searches.

Officials on Monday said that the Palisades Fire was 11 percent contained, while the Eaton Fire was 27 percent contained, after having decimated an estimated area eclipsing 62 square miles. 

The National Weather Service said in red flag warnings that 50 mph winds will continue to aggravate conditions from Monday to Wednesday, with an expected peak on Tuesday. 

On Monday, President Joe Biden urged Congress 'to step up' and earmark the tens of billions of dollars it will take to rebuild the affected areas. He said that the federal government plans to pay for expenses over the next 180 days.

The president said at the White House that firefighters and first responders were 'the angels' amid their efforts to douse the blazes, while Vice President Kamala Harris said the aftermath of the fires were 'truly heartbreaking.'