Home Australia Ajay Rochester’s son hailed a hero as he bravely fights the flames on the frontline of the Hollywood wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles

Ajay Rochester’s son hailed a hero as he bravely fights the flames on the frontline of the Hollywood wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles

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Kai Rochester moved to the United States in 2023 in hopes of landing a job in television as mom Ajay Rochester.

EXCLUSIVE

The son of an Australian TV presenter has been hailed as a hero as he risks his life for strangers during the devastating fires ravaging Los Angeles.

Kai Rochester, 25, son of former Australia’s Biggest Loser host Ajay Rochester, has been working around the clock alongside firefighters for five days straight.

The private security guard has often been armed only with a garden hose as he battles out-of-control fires and evacuates residents to safety.

But despite fresh warnings for locals to prepare for 72 hours of hell, he has told his terrified mother: “I won’t leave until you no longer need me.”

While his TV star mother is proud of her son’s courage on the front lines of the fires, she admits she feared for his safety as he battled the flames through the night, often alone.

“I haven’t slept a wink because I’m worried, it’s crazy,” Ajay Rochester told Daily Mail Australia. ‘It’s really crazy.

Kai Rochester moved to the United States in 2023 in hopes of landing a job in television as mom Ajay Rochester.

After the Hollywood writers' strike, he changed careers and became a private security guard who was hired to work while fires ravaged Los Angeles.

After the Hollywood writers’ strike, he changed careers and became a private security guard who was hired to work while fires ravaged Los Angeles.

TV star Ajay started an Amazon wish list for donations after a firefighter gave his son food when he had none.

TV star Ajay started an Amazon wish list for donations after a firefighter gave his son food when he had none.

‘If I fall asleep, I have nightmares about him and wake up with a start. You have to see it to believe it.

‘Steam rises from the ground, it looks like a bomb has exploded, everything is covered in ash.

“He came home exhausted after the first 32 hours, slept for a few hours and came back.”

She revealed how Mr. Rochester’s regular shift patrolling the wealthy Pacific Palisades neighborhood on January 8 suddenly turned into a terrifying life-or-death situation.

Fires had broken out hours earlier in the celebrity suburb where Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Tom Hanks, Reece Witherspoon and Adam Sandler, have homes.

“We both thought it was a normal change that ended up causing fires everywhere,” Ajay said.

‘Kai is trained and armed, so he wanted to stay and protect the houses from looters, but ended up helping the authorities and the fire department.

‘He’s been receiving calls and messages from homeowners thanking him after they saw him on their security cameras using their garden hoses and pool water to save their homes.

Kai Rochester has been receiving messages from owners thanking him

Kai Rochester has been receiving messages from owners thanking him

Rochester has been updating his worried mother via text messages during his grueling shifts that have lasted up to 32 hours.

Rochester has been updating his worried mother via text messages during his grueling shifts that have lasted up to 32 hours.

The fires broke out in Pacific Palisades and spread while Kai Rochester worked as a private security guard.

The fires broke out in Pacific Palisades and spread while Kai Rochester worked as a private security guard.

“He’s done everything from getting people to safety, to feeding pets, to protecting homes from looters.”

Rochester, who worked as a television editor on the groundbreaking Australian show The Block, moved to the United States in 2023 in hopes of finding work in the television industry.

But after Hollywood writers’ strikes affected work through 2024 and suspended many shows, he decided to change careers.

“He’s seen me chase check after check his entire life,” Ajay said.

‘He was the boy who only had one pair of shoes at school and even now he knows that I still live like that.

“So he decided he wanted more stability and I respect him for that. 2024 was the worst year for our industry, everyone said survive until 2025 and now what?

“The city has burned.”

Ajay said his son had no obligation to continue his shifts as the terror of the fire engulfed the city and he now sees it in a new light.

“Your children will always be your babies and you never stop worrying, but now, after all this, I realize that he has become a man,” she said.

“And I am very proud of the kind and brave man he has become.”

A video recorded by Kai reveals the hells he has been fighting armed only with a garden hose.

A video recorded by Kai reveals the hells he has been fighting armed only with a garden hose.

As devastation grew in the affluent neighborhood, Kai Rochester began working alongside firefighters after defying evacuation orders and staying to protect homes.

As devastation grew in the affluent neighborhood, Kai Rochester began working alongside firefighters after defying evacuation orders and staying to protect homes.

Ajay said Kai (pictured together) had no obligation to continue his shifts as the terror of the fire engulfed the city and now sees his son in a new light.

Ajay said Kai (pictured together) had no obligation to continue his shifts as the terror of the fire engulfed the city and now sees his son in a new light.

Ajay, who has not had to evacuate his home but is on high alert, has now established a Amazon Wish List Donate essentials to frontline emergency services.

“Kai didn’t even take food with him that first day, thinking he might have something at lunchtime,” she revealed.

But by then everything was burned to the ground. A firefighter gave him a granola bar and that was all he ate in 32 hours.

“I am now collecting donations for essential items such as food and eye drops and delivering them to frontline emergency workers.”

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