Los Angeles is currently grappling with some of the most destructive wildfires in its history. The devastating wildfires have forced thousands to flee their homes, with flames raging across over 27,000 acres. The California Governor has declared a state of emergency as the situation has been worsened by high winds and dry conditions.
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Residents in areas like Pacific Palisades and Sylmar face destroyed properties, blocked roads, and ongoing danger. Many celebs have lost their homes in the fire that has destroyed over 1000 structures.
Amidst this Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also under threat due to potential power outages and the looming possibility of evacuation.
Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle safe in LA?
This comes just days after it was reported that Harry and Meghan’s LA has more than doubled in value. Now the sprawling £24 million Montecito mansion is at risk as wildfires burn across Los Angeles County, reports The Independent.
While Montecito itself has not yet been hit by flames, the neighbourhood was flagged as a ‘high fire risk’ area by Southern California Edison (SCE) when the wildfires first started to erupt. At the time the power company was considering Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), which would have left the Duke and Duchess without electricity or communication lines.
Its online property checker tool says of Harry and Meghan’s residence:
This location is in a High Fire Risk Area. Power may be shut off during a PSPS to prevent wildfires.
Increased fire risk conditions are expected in this area from 1/7/2025 – 6pm PST to 1/8/2025 – 9am PST. Be prepared for a PSPS during this time, although we may avoid shut-offs.
The situation however has now become dire as it was reported that a red flag warning was placed on Southern California, which includes Montecito, on 14 January. As per Daily Mail, the warning was issued over incoming strong winds, dubbed 'the Devil Winds' that could fuel the fire even further. This means that Prince Harry and Meghan will have to be prepared to evacuate their home with their two children, and many pets, in the worst case scenario.
This comes as Prince Harry and Meghan have opened up their home to their friends who were forced to evacuate.
Celebrities who have lost homes in the LA fires
As LA’s wildfires continue to wreak havoc, several high-profile celebrities have already faced devastating losses. Billy Crystal, for instance, lost his Pacific Palisades home, a place he described as being ‘filled with beautiful memories,’ reports BBC.
Hotel heiress Paris Hilton revealed she saw her home in Malibu burning down on live TV. Mandy Moore’s home in Altadena was also reduced to ash, prompting her to share her heartbreak on Instagram, stating:
Our community is broken but we will be here to rebuild together.
Notable losses also include Diane Warren’s beachfront house, Miles Teller’s Pacific Palisades residence, and properties belonging to Star Wars’ Mark Hamill and General Hospital’s Cameron Mathison.
Meanwhile, James Woods and Schitt's Creek star Eugene Levy described their narrow escapes, reports AP News. Levy recounted ‘intense, black smoke’ enveloping his neighbourhood.
Other stars like Jennifer Aniston, Bradley Cooper, and Tom Hanks have homes in the affected areas, with many still awaiting news about whether their properties survived the flames.
Prince Harry and Meghan visit evacuation sites
More recently, Prince Harry and Meghan were spotted visiting victims who have lost their homes in the devastating wildfires that are ravaging the iconic American city.
As per The Independent, the couple visited an evacuation site in Pasadena and have been offering their aide to those affected by the fires. They joined forces with the World Central Kitchen, which helped distribute food and supplies to victims of the Eaton Fire on Friday, January 10.
Moreover, according to Express, Prince Harry had a heartfelt moment with a victim of the fires. The tabloid reported that the Duke of Sussex was chatting with an elderly man, who said he wanted a doughnut.
The mayor of Pasadena, who recalled the interaction, then revealed that Prince Harry disappeared for around 10 minutes and returned with a doughnut. The mayor, Victor Gordo, explained, as per Express:
The gentleman said, ‘what I’d really like is a donut.’ (Prince Harry) says, ‘there’s no donut here, but I will find one.’
He takes off, and 10 minutes later, he returns with a doughnut. The gentleman looks up and says, ‘I guess I need my cards and my sugar.’
That gentleman tonight is at the Convention Center and does not know it was Prince Harry who brought him that doughnut.
He [the elderly man] did tell Prince Harry, ‘if you ever run for anything, I’ll vote for you.’
It has also been said that the couple have donated clothing, children's items, and other essential supplies for people affected by the fires. Per The Independent, Prince Harry and Meghan have also donated money through their charity, the Archewell Foundation.
However, not everyone appears to be pleased by Prince Harry and Meghan’s actions during this time of crisis. As reported by Mirror, the couple have been branded ‘disaster tourists’ after comforting victims of the fire.
Actress Justine Bateman has hit out against the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, calling their actions a ‘repulsive photo op’. In a statement on X, the actress wrote:
Meghan Markle and Harry are no better than ambulance chasers. What a repulsive ‘photo op’ they achieved. They are ‘touring the damage’? Are they politicians now? They don't live here; they are tourists. Disaster tourists.
The couple are no stranger to the public having divisive comments over all their actions, but that hasn't deterred them supporting their community nonetheless. Moreover, Meghan Markle has made an important decision regarding her upcoming project in light of the devastating situation.
Meghan Markle postpones upcoming Netflix series amid LA fires
Due to the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, Meghan has decided to postpone the release of her show which was set to release a new Netflix show on January 15, 2025.
In a statement, the Duchess of Sussex expressed that she has chosen to delay the release of her show to ‘focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires’, as reported by BBC News.
I'm thankful to my partners at Netflix for supporting me in delaying the launch, as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California.
Meghan’s new show will now air on Netflix on March 4, 2025.
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Sources used:
The Independent: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face evacuation and power outages at Montecito home amid LA wildfires
MailOnline: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face having power cut to their £24m Montecito mansion as Palisades wildfires ravage California
BBC: Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton among celebrities to lose homes in wildfires
AP News: Celebrities among those who lost homes as devastating Los Angeles fires
BBC News: Meghan Netflix show delayed over LA wildfires
The Independent: Meghan Markle’s Netflix series ‘With Love, Meghan’ delayed by LA wildfires
The Independent: Prince Harry and Meghan deliver aid and embrace victims of California wildfires
Mirror: Meghan and Harry branded 'disaster tourists' after photos at LA Wildfires food bank
Express: Prince Harry's selfless act to elderly LA fire victim leaves fans saying the same thing
Express: Prince Harry and Meghan issued wildfires warning as 'Devil's Wind' blows towards £24m home
