EastEnders actress Patsy Palmer said she felt “an overwhelming sadness” after nearly her possessions amid ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. The TV star confirmed her family and home were safe and revealed her Malibu house had been surrounded by flames twice recently, including the week before Christmas.
In an Instagram post, she said: “Our house is miraculously ok again. It’s traumatic for everyone to lose everything they own and the precious memories that we often don’t know that we have in our garages. We laugh and say get rid of it but when it is taken it hits different.”
She added: “I come from Bethnal Green and it’s a world away from these types of disasters. My family and pets are safe and I know (they) will be doing what they can to help,” she said.
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Taking to Instagram she said: “The week before Christmas I received a call at 2am LA time from my husband telling me they had been evacuated due to fire sorrounding our house in Malibu . The whole neighborhood was on fire.
“I flew home to our precious home still standing but our neighbors had gone and the land next door burned. We cleaned out the garage finding things from years ago that we kept. Precious memories, photos, keepsakes etc. I felt an overwhelming sadness that we nearly lost these things.
“We had the most grateful Christmas to date enjoying being together mostly, still in our home. I left back to London to work with a full heart never expecting this to happen a week later. I experienced a small part of what it feels like to have lost everything we own and it was painful enough so to experience this again is beyond words.
“Our house is miraculously ok again. It’s traumatic for everyone to lose everything they own and the precious memories that we often don’t know that we have in our garages. We laugh and say get rid of it but when it is taken it hits different. In 2018 a bit part of Malibu burned it was shocking to the core, we lost a rental so we were without a home for 3 months it was hard on the kids.
“I come from Bethnal Green and its a world away from these types of disasters. Having been through that though I also know how amazing community can be . It was so beautiful to see how everyone pulled together and helped everybody with things and trauma and just everything really.
“My family and pets are safe and I know will be doing what they can to help . Its surreal as you drive 20 minuite up the road and its like nothing is happening. The sun is shining and life is going on (Thank God ) but yes it’s surreal for sure. Sending all of my energy to everyone today.
“May you be blessed with healing love and so much understanding at this crazy time.”
Since the fires first began popping up around a densely populated, 25-mile expanse north of central LA, they have burned more than 12,000 structures, a term that includes homes, apartment buildings, businesses, outbuildings and vehicles. No cause has been identified yet for the largest fires.
Allegations of leadership failures and political blame have begun and so have investigations. Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday ordered state officials to determine why a 117-million gallon reservoir was out of service and some hydrants ran dry, calling it “deeply troubling”.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles fire chief Kristin Crowley said city leadership failed her department by not providing enough money for firefighting. She also criticised the lack of water. “When a firefighter comes up to a hydrant, we expect there’s going to be water,” she said.
At least 11 people have been killed, according to the LA County medical examiner’s office. Officials said they expected that number to rise as cadaver dogs go through levelled neighbourhoods to assess the devastation in an area larger than San Francisco.
Officials on Friday set up a centre where people could report those missing. Tens of thousands of people remained under evacuation orders, and the fires have consumed about 56 square miles. The disaster took homes from everyone, from waiters to movie stars.
The government has not yet released figures on the cost of the damage, but private firms have estimated it will climb into the tens of billions. The Walt Disney Co said on Friday it will donate 15 million dollars (£12.3 million) to respond to the fires and help rebuild.
The flames hit schools, churches, a synagogue, libraries, boutiques, bars, restaurants, banks and local landmarks like the Will Rogers’ Western Ranch House, and a mansion in Altadena that dated back to 1887.