Jay Leno Feeds L.A. Fire Frontline Workers from Vintage Fire Truck, Calls Damage ‘Unbelievable’

Jay Leno is helping out.

The comedian, 74, was spotted driving his 1941 American laFrance fire truck to deliver food to first responders amid the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. 

Photos show Leno, on one occasion, driving in the bright red truck wearing a red flannel jacket and flashing a peace sign.

In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, 57, the former talk show host opened up about his volunteer work and how the tragedy is bringing the community together. 

“We’re cooking for the crew and, well, you guys, if you’re hungry. We got a big barbecue going,” Leno said. “And because they’re all getting boxed lunches, we figured, let’s get some hot food.”

He continued to talk about his vintage fire truck, joking, “It’s good to have your own fire truck if you live in L.A.”

Leno, who is a burn victim from an accident in 2022, also said that his team cooked food for the crew gathering at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena the day before, noting that they will hit up “some of the other locations” over the next couple days. 

As for the disaster, he told Cooper, “It’s unbelievable.”

“It is 10,000 buildings. Even if you drove all day, you couldn’t see 10,000. You get on that hill and you look for miles, and there’s nothing. It looks like Hiroshima or just some horrible thing,” Leno said. 

However, he added the disaster has brought a “sense of community.”

Leno compared the response to the September 11th attacks, saying, “The last time, I remember, was 9/11. President Bush, we all got together and the sense of community. For three or four days, everybody put aside their political beliefs and who’s on your lawn on a sign, and all that nonsense. It’s happening here today. I mean, it’s a shame, that’s what it takes.”

He described the current devastation as “an entire city wiped out.”

“Pacific Palisades, it doesn’t exist and probably won’t exist for the next five, six years,” Leno said. “I don’t know how you rebuild this. It’s $160 billion, there’s no insurance company in the world that has that much money. The problems will be insurmountable, but we’ll get through it. We always do.”

The first fire started in Pacific Palisades on Tuesday, Jan. 7, and was followed by two more fires that same evening. By Thursday, a third fire was being investigated as arson and growing rapidly. The tragic event has displaced more than 80,000 people, including many celebrities.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, there have been 25 deaths in total so far. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Stars like Eva Longoria and Jennifer Garner have volunteered during the fires. On Saturday, Jan. 11, Longoria announced in an emotional Instagram video that she’s donating $50,000 to the organization This Is About Humanity to support frontline workers and families.

She explained the money will “support all of these families who are working tirelessly to keep us sustained with food. These farm workers are still going out there and producing and picking our produce and dangerous conditions.”

Meanwhile, the 13 Going on 30 alum was photographed on Friday, Jan. 10, volunteering with World Central Kitchen in Los Angeles.

PEOPLE confirmed that Garner is helping the team bring meals from restaurants and food truck partners to first responders and families affected by the fires.