LA fires: Harry and Meghan among California’s famous residents set to flee homes as wildfires rage

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to flee their £11million mansion as raging wildfires continue to devastate parts of Hollywood.

The worst blazes in the history of Los Angeles have already claimed the homes of scores of A-listers including Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal and Paris Hilton. Tonight the fires were still some way from the Duke and Duchess’s Montecito home but sources said they are ready to go into “crisis mode”.

Their security team has been co-ordinating an evacuation plan while packing essentials for their children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three. A neighbour said: “It’s not chaos here yet but the fire is moving fast and we are not taking any chances.”

The couple and their neighbours have been given public safety survival kits containing a solar charger, flashlight, protective equipment, ice, water, snacks and safety pamphlets. Tonight they posted on their website: “A state of emergency has been issued. If you feel compelled to help, here are some resources.” They then provided several links.

The National Guard has been called out to help fight the fires sweeping the city where insurers say damage has already exceeded £8billion. So far at least five people have died, 2,000 buildings have been obliterated and thousands have been left with nothing but ashes. More than 130,000 residents have been evacuated.

Kathryn Barger, who heads Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said more than 20 people have been arrested for looting or similar crimes. She added: “Shame on those who prey on residents at this time of crisis.”

Fierce winds driving the flames died down temporarily yesterday allowing fire crews to slow the spread. But despite the lull, the fires appeared far from under control. From the Pacific Palisades to the Hollywood Hills, from Pasadena to the San Fernando Valley, the area synonymous with glamour was shrouded in a nightmare orange haze.

The City of Angels has become a city of smoke. Thick columns of it rise into the sky. They blot out the sun and turn the city into a surreal landscape of ash and flame. Firefighters stretched to the limit while working 48-hour shifts continued with an uphill battle.

Captain Adam VanGerpen said: “This is unlike anything I’ve seen in my 25 years on the fire department.” Erratic winds gusting to 100 mph on the first night spat embers that rapidly spread the flames. While the gusts may have died down, Van Gerpen said wind forecasts through the weekend were still of concern.

Devastation was described as “biblical in scale” with five major fires reducing landmarks and luxury enclaves to ashes. Further afield blazes left more than 425,000 customers are without power in southern California.

The high winds combined with bone-dry conditions after a rainless winter have created a perfect storm with flames moving at terrifying speed. Hydrants are running dry in some areas and fire-fighting helicopters were at first grounded by the extreme wind.

Officials continue to urge residents to evacuate, warning that those who stay risk significant injury or worse. Some have ignored the pleas, leading to what officials say are a “high number of significant injuries”. County fire chief Anthony Marrone called the situation unprecedented in scope and severity.

He said resources were at breaking point with the fight far from over. A blaze in the Palisades district, one of the city’s wealthiest enclaves, has so far been the most destructive. It has scorched more than 17,000 acres and reduced 1,000 homes to ruins.

Iconic estates on cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean have been obliterated and many local institutions, including Palisades Charter High School, alma mater to countless celebrities, have been lost. As fires marched toward the coast, evacuations were ordered along the Pacific Highway, displacing residents from Malibu to Santa Monica in scenes reminiscent of a disaster movie.

But the horror has not stopped there. To the east, fire unleashed its fury on the suburban sprawl of Pasadena, engulfing over 10,000 acres and destroying 900 buildings including the Pasadena Jewish Temple, a cornerstone of the community for more than a century.

In the Hollywood Hills cultural landmarks such as the Hollywood Bowl and the TCL Chinese Theatre are at risk. All across the city, smaller flare-ups were being reported, adding to the chaos as crews raced from one emergency to the next.

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis and her family have pledged a million dollars (£812,000) to start a “fund of support” for those affected by the fires. The blazes have thrown Hollywood’s awards season into disarray, with the Producers Guild Awards announcing they will delay their nominations from Friday to Sunday.

Joe Biden cancelled the final overseas trip of his presidency just hours before he was set to depart for Rome and the Vatican, choosing to remain in Washington to monitor the disaster response.