Take That's Mark Owen 'separated from family' after being forced to flee his LA home

Take That star Mark Owen has been forced to flee his LA home over 'uncertainty' it would survive the raging wildfires. The singer is now taking shelter in his music studio with his cats and two dogs after waking up to "helicopters, thick black smoke and winds howling".

His wife, Emma, revealed she was "safe" in a hotel with their two daughters, hamsters, and two other dogs, but was feeling "heavy and tired" amid the "apocalyptic" scenes. Five people have died since the wildfires began rapidly spreading across areas of California, destroying more than 1,000 homes, the Mirror reports.

Taking to Instagram, Emma said "hurricane-force winds and lack of water have meant the fire has spread catastrophically fast" and had "taken much of our beloved area with it". She told her followers: "Schools, homes, shops, and stables are all gone. We woke up to helicopters, thick black smoke, winds howling, and the uncertainty that our house would survive."

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She continued: "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."

Returning to the platform to post an update, 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.

"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."

She told fans their son, Elwood, and his girlfriend were staying with friends after the area they had sought shelter in later came under threat. Emma added: "Can't wait to have my family back together again."