Hollywood stars flee massive wildfire described as 'Armageddon'

Nov 16 2008 By Bruce Walker

THOUSANDS of homes, including stars' mansions, were evacuated as wildfires raged in California last night.

Firefighters struggled to stop the flames spreading across the Cold Springs area of Montecito.

Hollywood actor Rob Lowe told how he fled yesterday as up to 200 homes burned to the ground.

He described the scene as "like Armageddon".

Other multi-millionaire celebrities who live in the upmarket community include stars Catherine Zeta Jones, Jeff Bridges as well as presenter Oprah Winfrey.

Around 5400 homes were left abandoned.

West Wing star Lowe sped his family to safety as the mountain was engulfed by flames shooting 200ft in the air.

They stopped to check on neighbours and found them trapped behind their automatic gate which was stuck because the power was out. Lowe, whose house survived untouched, said he helped drag the heavy gates open.

He said: "Embers were falling and the wind was 70 miles an hour.

"It was like Armageddon. You couldn't hear yourself think."

At least 13 people were injured in what has been dubbed the Tea Fire because it is rumoured to have broken out in the town's Tea Gardens. It then tore across four square miles reducing buildings to ashes. Water-dropping helicopters were back in action yesterday.

Nicole Koon, of the Santa Barbara county executive office, said: "We believe 100-plus homes have been destroyed.

"It's our best guess at the moment but we're not counting as much as trying to protect the homes."

More than 1000 firefighters were called into action.

Blistering 70mph winds, dry brush and oil-rich eucalyptus trees turned an ordinary brush fire into the exploding inferno.

It quickly consumed rows of luxury homes and part of Westmont College,where students spent the night in a gym shelter.

Montecito suffered a major fire in 1977 whenmore than 200 homes burned. Another in 1964 burned 67,000 acres and damaged 150 houses and buildings.

Meanwhile 10 homes in northern Los Angeles were destroyed by a fast-moving wildfire fanned by fierce winds.

Thousands were forced to evacuate, including the patients of a hospital which had been left in darkness.

SUNDAY EMAIL

reporters@sundaymail.co.uk