Prince Harry and Meghan Markle release impassioned statement as Palisades wildfires rage through California

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have issued a statement regarding the California fires urging people to “check in” on disabled and elderly neighbors.

The couple, who live in Montecito, California, posted links to several charities they had previously worked with and asked their followers to “help those in need.”

On their website, Sussex.com, the couple said: ‘In recent days, wildfires in Southern California have ravaged neighborhoods and devastated families, homes, schools, healthcare facilities and much more, affecting dozens of thousands of people. all areas of life.

‘A state of emergency has been declared.

“If you feel compelled to help, here are some resources and ideas,” they wrote.

They are also encouraging people to “open their home” to others affected and to donate to the American Red Cross.

‘If a friend, loved one or pet needs to evacuate and you can offer them safe shelter in your home, do so. And be sure to check with disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating.”

‘Some families and people have been left with nothing. Consider donating clothing, children’s toys and clothing, and other essential items. The American Red Cross is on the ground helping those in need.’

The couple could face a power cut to their £12million mansion due to the devastating wildfires ravaging California.

Firefighters are battling flames that have swept through the Los Angeles area amid strong winds, destroying homes and causing tens of thousands of people to flee.

Officials in and around the US city are preparing for the situation to worsen today after California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency.

Now, local electricity provider Southern California Edison is considering a so-called public safety power shutoff (PSPS) in parts of Santa Barbara County.

The company, one of the area’s main energy suppliers, said it was considering closure due to a “red flag” warning and an increased risk of wildfires.

Residents are now being contacted in areas such as Montecito, where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have lived in a “high fire risk” property for five years.

This has raised the possibility of Harry and Meghan losing power in the house where they live with their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.

The couple may even have to leave the house, since a power outage could also affect communication networks and make it difficult to call for emergency help if necessary.

SCE expects the PSPS could affect 4,172 customers in Santa Barbara County and has notified all residents or businesses that are under consideration.

Their online property checker tool says of the Sussexes’ address: “This location is in a high fire risk area.” Power may be turned off during a PSPS to prevent wildfires.’

It adds: ‘Increased fire risk conditions are expected in this area from January 7, 2025 at 6 pm PST until January 8, 2025 at 9 am PST. Please be prepared for a PSPS during this time, although we may avoid outages.

The closest fire to Montecito currently burning is a fire in the Malibu area, about 60 miles along the coast.

The Duke and Duchess bought their sprawling nine-bedroom home for $14.65 million (£11.9 million) in 2020, but it is believed to have since doubled in value to $29 million (£23.5 million). million pounds sterling).

MailOnline has contacted Harry and Meghan’s press team for comment.

More than 200,000 people were without power in Los Angeles County today due to high winds, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us.

One of the largest wildfires in California history, the ‘Thomas Fire,’ reached Montecito in 2017 amid 65 mph winds, but the area survived with minor damage.

Firefighters worked together to stop spot fires that emerged from falling embers, and only seven homes in the area burned, even though the fire had burned 282,000 acres of land, including parts of nearby Ventura and Santa Paula.

Yesterday, a fire that broke out near a nature preserve in the inland hills northeast of Los Angeles spread so quickly that staff at a nursing home had to push dozens of elderly residents into wheelchairs and hospital beds. down the street to a parking lot.

Residents waited in bedclothes as embers fell around them until ambulances, buses and even construction vans arrived to take them to safety.

Another fire that started hours earlier devastated the Pacific Palisades area of ​​the city, a hillside along the coast dotted with celebrity residences and made famous by the Beach Boys in their 1960s hit Surfin’ USA.

Roads became impassable after dozens of people abandoned their vehicles and fled on foot, some with suitcases.

The traffic jam on Palisades Drive prevented emergency vehicles from passing and an excavator was brought in to push the abandoned cars aside and create a path.

Officials did not give an estimate of the structures damaged or destroyed in the Pacific Palisades wildfire, but said about 30,000 residents were under evacuation orders and more than 13,000 structures were under threat.

A third wildfire started last night and quickly prompted evacuations in Sylmar, a community in the San Fernando Valley that is the northernmost area of ​​Los Angeles. The causes of the three fires are being investigated.

The flames were being spread by Santa Ana winds that exceeded 60 mph in some places.

Winds were expected to increase overnight, producing isolated gusts that could exceed 100 mph in mountains and hills, even in areas that have not seen substantial rain in months.

The situation prompted the Los Angeles Fire Department to take the rare step of asking off-duty firefighters for help. It was too windy for firefighting planes to fly, making fighting the fire even more difficult.