Mel Gibson wasn’t home when his Malibu mansion burned to the ground in the ongoing Southern California wildfires – he was out of state recording Joe Rogan’s podcast.

The actor and director made the revelation during an appearance on NewsNation Thursday night Elizabeth Vargas reportsHe said he flew to Austin, Texas, where Rogan is based, earlier this week “as the wind picked up in Malibu.”

“As we were talking (on the podcast), I was feeling kind of uneasy because I knew my neighborhood was on fire, so I thought, ‘I wonder if my apartment is still there,'” Gibson said. “But when I got home, it actually wasn’t there.”

Related: Spencer Pratt Reveals His and Wife Heidi’s Home Was Destroyed in Los Angeles Wildfire: ‘Nightmare Come True’

Accordingly Page SixGibson had lived in the $14.5 million home for nearly 15 years before it “completely burned down” in the Pacific Palisades wildfire. “It’s just one thing, but it’s obviously devastating. It’s emotional,” he said. “You know, we’ve lived there for a long time.”

“It was my home and I had a lot of personal things there that, you know, I can’t get back,” he said. “All sorts of things. Everything from photos to files to personal things I’ve had over the years and clothes and, you know, cool stuff.”

However, throughout the interview, Gibson reiterated the positive takeaways – namely that lost possessions “can all be replaced” and that all his loved ones are safe and sound – and he even cracked a few jokes. “I was relieved of the burden of my belongings because everything is in ashes,” he said with a laugh, adding, “I went home and said to myself, ‘Well, at least I don’t have any of this bothering me'”

He also came home with surprisingly good news: his chickens survived the fire. “It was incredible. We checked the chicken coop and everything was fine. So we gave them some grain and water and they are happy and lay eggs,” he said, adding, “They weren’t fried chickens.”

Want more movie news? Sign in Weekly entertainmentis the free newsletter with the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews and more.

Related: James Woods breaks down crying in mid-air after his home burns down in LA wildfires: ‘It was like an inferno’

The Pacific Palisades fire is one of several infernos currently burning in the Los Angeles area, along with the Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires. The fire, which broke out Tuesday morning in the midst of a historic and devastating storm in Santa Ana, has so far burned 21,317 acres and is 8% contained.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly