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

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released a statement on the California fires, calling on people to ‘check in’ on disabled and elderly neighbors.

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

On their website Sussex.com, the couple said: ‘In recent days, wildfires in Southern California have raged through neighborhoods, destroying families, homes, schools, medical care centers and more – affecting tens of thousands of people. all walks of life.

‘A state of emergency has been declared.

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

They also encourage people to “open their homes” to others affected and donate money to the American Red Cross.

“If a friend, loved one or pet needs to evacuate and you can provide him or her with safe shelter in your home, please do so. And be sure to contact any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating.”

‘Some families and people have nothing left. Please consider donating clothing, children’s toys and clothing, and other supplies. The American Red Cross is on the ground to assist those in need.”

The couple could have the power switched off at their £12million mansion due to the devastating bushfires ravaging California.

Firefighters are battling blazes that have swept through the Los Angeles area due to high winds, destroying homes and displacing tens of thousands of people.

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 Southern California electricity provider 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 the closure due to a ‘Red Flag’ warning and an increased risk of bushfires.

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

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

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

Their online property checking tool says of the Sussexes’ address: ‘This location is in a high fire risk area. During a PSPS, the power can be turned off to prevent forest fires.’

It adds, “An increased fire risk is expected in this area from 7/1/2025 – 6:00 PM PST to 8/1/2025 – 9:00 AM PST. Be prepared for a PSPS during this time, although we can avoid closures.”

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

The Duke and Duchess bought their sprawling nine-bedroom home in 2020 for $14.65 million, but its value is said to have since doubled to $29 million.

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

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

One of California’s largest ever wildfires, the “Thomas Fire,” reached Montecito in 2017 amid 65 mph winds, but the area survived with only minor damage.

Firefighters worked together to stop local blazes sparked by falling embers, burning down just seven homes in the area – despite the blaze having destroyed 282,000 hectares of land, including parts of nearby Ventura and Santa Paula.

Yesterday, a fire broke out near a nature preserve in the Inland Foothills, northeast of LA, and spread so quickly that nursing home staff had to push dozens of elderly residents in wheelchairs and hospital beds down the street to a parking lot .

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

Another fire that started hours earlier swept through the Pacific Palisades area of ​​the city, a hilly coastal area 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 getting through and a bulldozer was called in to push the abandoned cars aside and create a path.

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

A third wildfire started last night and quickly led to evacuations in Sylmar, a community in the San Fernando Valley, the northernmost area of ​​Los Angeles. The causes of all three fires are under investigation.

The flames spread in some places due to Santa Ana winds exceeding 60 miles per hour.

Winds were expected to increase overnight, producing isolated gusts that could reach speeds of 160 km/h in the mountains and foothills, including in areas where there has been no substantial rain for months fallen.

The situation prompted the Los Angeles Fire Department to take the rare step of calling on off-duty firefighters to help. It was too windy for firefighting planes to fly, further hampering efforts to fight the fire.