BBC EastEnders star Patsy Palmer 'helpless' as family evacuated from LA home due to 'devastating' wildfires

EastEnders star Patsy Palmer admitted she was 'heartbroken' seeing the 'devastating scenes' in her 'hometown' of Los Angeles. The soap legend revealed her husband and children were 'safe and evacuated', but 'lots' of her friends had lost their homes.

The 52-year-old relocated to Malibu in 2014, and said she currently felt 'helpless' as she was over in the UK for work. The actress, who plays Bianca Jackson on the BBC show, flew over on Saturday before the fires broke, and confessed it was "really hard" being "so far away".

In an emotional Instagram post, she wrote: "My heart is broken. My brain is fried today looking at the devastating scenes of the fires AGAIN in my hometown. I just returned home to my home intact after the fires a couple of weeks ago and left on Saturday, back to work in the UK, and now this."

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She continued: "My family are safe but lots of my friends have lost their homes again which is extremely traumatic. Being here so far away is reallly really hard. I'm praying and crying as I write this.

"I’m helpless here but praying hard. Please reach out if you need anything. Richard and kids are there safe and evacuated. This is huge. Really wasn't expecting this. Heartbroken. Stay safe."

According to the Mirror, Patsy wasn't the only celebrity impacted by the horrific scenes in LA. Richard Armitage, star of the current Netflix hit Missing You, called the wildfires "apocalyptic" after fellow actors lost their homes in the raging blazes.

Reality star and singer Paris Hilton, When Harry Met Sally actor Billy Crystal and talk show host Ricki Lake were among the famous faces who have confirmed that their residences have been destroyed in the fires. This Is Us star Mandy Moore has also revealed her children’s school was "gone" and her favourite restaurants had been "levelled" when she told fans her family and pets had 'got out before it was too late'.

Firefighters were attempting to contain the original Palisades fire, with at least 70,000 people forced to evacuate their homes. Another fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills, threatening a host of tourist sites including the Walk of Fame, and Hollywood Bowl, as strong winds scattered embers.