TAKE That star Mark Owen and his family were forced to flee their Los Angeles home as wildfires rip through Southern California.
His wife, Emma, took to Instagram to share the couple’s terrifying ordeal, describing scenes of “helicopters, thick black smoke, and howling winds.”
The fires, fuelled by hurricane-force winds and dry conditions, have wreaked havoc, leaving five dead, over 1,000 homes destroyed, and 70,000 people evacuated.
Declared a state of emergency, the infernos have consumed parts of Malibu, the Hollywood Hills, and Runyon Canyon, turning the region into a fiery battleground.
Mom-of-two Emma’s raw account captured the chaos and heartbreak ripping through the City of Angels.
She wrote on Instagram: “We woke up to helicopters, thick black smoke, winds howling, and the uncertainty that our house would survive.
“I wish I had packed better. Even if I had just grabbed each of their baby shoes, it would have been something.”
Emma revealed their family’s harrowing escape, detailing how they managed to get their pets, including hamsters and dogs, to safety.
It comes as…
Their horse was relocated but remains at risk as the fires continue to spread.
She wrote: “So many have lost everything, pets included. And it’s nowhere near over.
“Three active fires are blazing around us, and there is not enough water to manage the situation. Planes are grounded due to the winds.”
She praised the Los Angeles Fire Department, calling them “heroes” for their tireless efforts, but also issued a stark warning about the climate crisis: “Climate change is real, and it’s apocalyptic when it strikes.”
In later videos, Emma shared updates, including the troubling news that looters were targeting evacuated homes.
“Can you believe people are looting at this time? What is wrong with humanity?” she said.
The Owen family’s ordeal mirrors the plight of thousands as the wildfires, spanning more than 25,000 acres, continue to rage. NASA images show plumes of smoke visible from space, a haunting reminder of the scale of destruction.
President Joe Biden has responded to the crisis, directing the Department of Defense to deploy additional firefighting personnel and equipment.
“Ten Navy helicopters with water delivery buckets are on their way,” he announced, while also thanking the National Guard for their support.
For now, the Owen family remains scattered, with Emma and their daughters staying in a hotel, while Mark shelters at his music studio with some of their pets.
“Our house is under threat again; none of the fires are contained,” Emma said.
“Can’t wait to have my family back together again.”
The origins of the Palisades fire and Eaton fire are still unknown and are under investigation.
But the Palisades blaze is believed to have started in a backyard and then quickly spread in the dry bushes in the mountainous hills.
At least three million homes and businesses across Los Angeles County are without power, according to Southern California Edison, an electrical service company.
Some of those homes belong to celebrities, with Paris Hilton, Billy Crystal, Miles Teller, and Anthony Hopkins among those to lose their abodes.
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THERE are five main fires which have hit LA over the last two days and are now threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents.
Here’s a list of the key facts for each of the blazes:
Palisades fire:
Eaton fire:
Sunset fire:
Hurst fire:
Lidia fire:
