Wildfires force Take That's Mark Owen to evacuate LA home after waking to 'helicopters and thick black smoke'

Take That star Mark Owen has had to evacuate his Los Angeles residence as he awoke to the chaos of "helicopters, thick black smoke and winds howling."

California is grappling with rapidly spreading wildfires that have forced thousands from their homes, seeking safety. The devastation has reached Malibu, the Hollywood Hills, and Runyon Canyon.

Officials report that five lives have been lost by the fires, with more than 1,000 homes razed and around 70,000 residents evacuated. Amidst this crisis, a state of emergency has been declared.

Firefighters are struggling on the front lines of what once were glamorous neighbourhoods, now facing water shortages and fierce winds that severely hamper efforts to control the inferno. Celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Harrison Ford, and Billy Crystal have seen their homes consumed by the flames.

In the wake of the disaster, Mark Owen has become one of the many forced to abandon their homes in search of refuge. On Instagram, his wife Emma shared: "Thank you for all your messages and checking in. I can't quite comprehend what happened here, but we are safe. The hurricane-force winds and lack of water have meant the fire has spread catastrophically fast and taken much of our beloved area with it. Schools, homes, shops, and stables are all gone.", reports the Mirror.

"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. 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."

"I'm not sure what our next step is. Right now, I'm just heavy and tired. We are beyond grateful to the heroes at @losangelesfiredepartment for all they do during these times. They work tirelessly to save homes and lives under catastrophic conditions. We see you. Climate change is real, and it's apocalyptic when it strikes."

Before being evacuated, Emma informed her online followers that there was "no water left" and that aircrafts which had been spreading water across the fires had been grounded due to the rising winds. "We need your prayers," she added.

In a later video, Emma said: "I'm so tired, I don't think anyone in LA is sleeping right now. I'm popping back on here, we've had so many messages of people just checking if we're ok – friends and family back home and there are so many messages, they're so lovely, we just don't have the energy or the time to individually send details."

Relaying her family's ordeal, she expressed: "Just to let you know that we are safe, we are still safe, myself and the two girls are at a hotel with the two smaller dogs and the hamsters. Mark is at his music studio with the two bigger dogs and the cats, we have so many animals. We managed to get the horse to safety, although the horse might have to be rescued again because where they were moved to is now under threat."

Further briefing on their plight, she added: "Can't wait to have my family back together again," highlighting that they felt "blessed" to find safety amidst the crisis. "Our house is under threat again, none of the fires are contained, they're still raging," she continued.

Tragically, as their home remains at risk from the rampant blazes, Emma disclosed another dire concern: the presence of looters taking advantage of the evacuated homes. "Can you believe people are looting at this time? What is wrong with humanity? " she questioned, dismayed by the additional anxiety during an already harrowing experience.

Scores of wildfires have ravaged parts of the region, including Hurst, Eaton, Woodley, Palisades and Runyon Canyon, with the combined blaze now engulfing over 25,000 acres. The smoke can even be seen from space, according to Nasa's Space Observatory.

After declaring a state of emergency, all available resources are being utilised in a bid to control the fires, with President Joe Biden intervening directly by authorising further support. Taking to social media on Wednesday evening, he said: "I have directed the @DeptofDefense to rapidly provide additional firefighting personnel and capabilities to the region being impacted by the Southern California wildfires. We also continue to work closely with the National Guard. My thanks to the California National Guard and the Nevada National Guard for readying Airborne Firefighting Systems. Ten Navy helicopters with water delivery buckets are on their way."