The Los Angeles wildfires have been nothing short of catastrophic, and for Gina Chiles—mom of Olympian and UCLA star Jordan Chiles—the worry is all too real. What started as the Palisades fire in the morning quickly spiraled out of control, tearing through Santa Monica and Malibu. By evening, it spread to Eaton, swallowing up 10,000 acres across Altadena and Pasadena, forcing thousands to evacuate. Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, the fire reached Hurst late at night, wreaking havoc in Sylmar and the San Fernando Valley.

With Jordan Chiles living in Los Angeles while competing for the UCLA Bruins, Gina understandably shared her concern for her daughter’s safety. Luckily, she later gave everyone a reason to breathe a little easier: in an Instagram update, Gina confirmed that Jordan is safe. “So devastating… Jordan is safe-just watching closely. It’s really smoky and bad air quality,” read Gina Chiles’ Instagram story on January 8, 2025. Extending her prayers for Los Angeles, track and field legend Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone also posted on her Instagram story. It read, “Pray for Los Angeles.”

With emotions running high, Jordan Chiles took to Instagram to update her fans during the wildfire chaos, posting a heartfelt story on January 8, 2025: “My heart is broken but also want to say lam safe… I am praying for everyone.” Her message brought relief to fans but brought to light the truly distressing devastation surrounding her.

While the exact cause of the wildfire remains unknown, authorities have pointed to the infamous Santa Ana winds for fueling the fire’s rapid spread. These winds have made firefighting efforts an uphill battle. Cal Fire explained in an update, “The combination of low humidity, dry fuels, and shifting winds has heightened the potential for spot fires and rapid expansion.”

As of now, the blaze has displaced 30,000 people, consumed over 1,100 homes, and claimed at least five lives, according to the Los Angeles Times. One particularly gut-wrenching story Jordan shared involved Dale, a 91-year-old man who broke down after losing his home to the flames—an update Chiles shared with teary emojis, capturing the heartbreak of the moment.

In response to the tragedy, Mayor Karen Bass canceled her Africa trip, returning to California after facing criticism for leaving during such a critical time. As firefighters and authorities continue to battle the blaze and assess damages, the focus remains on supporting those affected. Meanwhile, amid this chaos, Jordan Chiles still managed to shine. Her standout NCAA debut reminded everyone why she’s a star, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. It’s a small but welcome bright spot in an otherwise devastating situation.

Jordan Chiles stuns fans with a spectacular floor routine since the Paris heartbreak!

Jordan Chiles knows how to turn heartbreak into a headline. The 23-year-old Olympian, fresh off team gold in Paris, faced a gut-wrenching twist when she lost her bronze medal from the women’s floor final due to a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling. While that drama left her reeling, Chiles is back and channeling her fire where it counts—on the gymnastics floor. Returning to UCLA with Paris experience under her belt and a point to prove, Chiles made a jaw-dropping collegiate comeback at the American Gold Women’s Collegiate Classic.

She debuted a brand-new floor routine set to a medley of Prince hits. The performance kicked off with “Let’s Go Crazy,” and, oh, the crowd did exactly that. Rocking a sparkly purple leotard, Chiles lit up the arena with her flips, landings, and even some playful air guitar and claps to the beat. Chiles didn’t just bring the fun; she brought the scores.

Competing in three events—floor, vault, and bars—she was UCLA’s star, racking up two 9.900s on vault and bars. She even debuted a complex tucked vault that earned her a title in that category. Sure, UCLA placed last with a 195.250 overall, but with Chiles leading the charge, there’s hope for brighter days ahead.

And speaking of brighter days, Chiles is also using her platform to address the wildfires ravaging California. She’s shared her devastation about the crisis but assured fans she’s safe. Let’s hope the fires settle soon—and that Chiles keeps soaring, both on and off the mat.