Rupert Murdoch’s winery scorched by California wildfires, as celebs share videos of flames threatening Bel-Air

Rupert Murdoch’s winery was engulfed by a wildfire sweeping across Los Angeles which also forced numerous celebrities to flee their homes.

The flames reached the billionaire media mogul’s Moraga Vineyards estate after destroying at least six properties in Bel-Air, one of the region’s wealthiest neighbourhoods, and threatening hundreds more.

Firefighters were unable to hold back the blaze from the $30 million estate, which was evacuated last night, and were battling to save numerous multi million-pound homes in the area.

A temperature-controlled storage shed was burned, and it was unclear how much wine was lost.

Courtney Kardashian posted this video when driving away from the fires
Instagram

Murdoch, who lives at the estate with actress Jerry Hall, said. “We are monitoring the situation as closely as we can and are grateful for the efforts of all the first responders.

“Some of our neighbours have suffered heavy losses and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this time.”

A photo taken from the International Space Station shows the wildfires in California
Reuters

The so-called Skirball Fire, which erupted yesterday, has been fuelled by hot, dry winds, and has burned about 150 acres near large estates in Bel-Air.

The fire, which broke out near Mulholland Drive, was just one of a number of wildfires that have flared across southern California since Monday, forcing thousands to flee and covering the city in smoke.

A number of celebrities have been caught up in the terrifying blaze.

Los Angeles County Fire helicopter flies over during the 'Skirball Fire'
EPA

Glee’s Lea Michele was forced to flee, posting a video of her driving along a road lined with flames.

She said: “It’s so crazy because yesterday when there were those duel fires, I had such a strong feeling and then when I woke up this morning - thankfully I woke up early - and when everyone was coming to get me ready, they said we gotta go so I just threw my cat in my bag and I left.”

A woman involved in a traffic accident waits to get towed beside a wall of flames on the 101 highway in California
AFP

Actress and comedian Chelsea Handler, who is perhaps best known for starring in This Means War, was also forced to leave her home.

She said online: “Just evacuated my house. It’s like Donald Trump is setting the world on fire. Literally and figuratively. Stay safe everyone. Dark times.”

Bride of Chucky actress Jennifer Tilly was left homeless.

Alongside a picture of herself in a hotel lobby, she wrote: “The fourth hotel we tried had a room. Seems like everyone is evacuating the wildfires. We had to go further east.”

The singer Lionel Richie cancelled a concert to help his ex-wife flee the area, while the homes of celebrities including Harrison Ford, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady were also believed to be under threat.

The fire also forced curators at the $4.2 billion Getty Museum, described as the world’s richest art collection, to shut the centre to visitors.

The fires have also closed highways, schools, shut down production of TV series, and left around 200,000 people under evacuation orders.

California Governor Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency, freeing funds and resources to assist firefighters, amid fears that the fires could intensify and spread further.

Los Angeles Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas said: “Right now we’re experiencing favourable wind conditions...but we are anticipating a continuation of the red flag conditions throughout the week, at least until Friday.”

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