Many celebrities including Mel Gibson evacuated

Oct 24, 2007, 12:30 GMT

Mel Gibson - © Lee Roth / RothStock / PR Photos

Mel Gibson is the latest celebrity to flee the Malibu fires.

The 'Lethal Weapon' star and his family were evacuated from their Malibu mansion as the raging blaze continues to spread.

Richard Gere - who witnessed the fire's devastation as he flew into Los Angeles for the 11th annual Hollywood Awards on Monday (22.10.07) - said: "It's as far as you could see in both directions. The smoke was actually in the plane as we flew through."

'Dallas' star Victoria Principal was also evacuated and left her home taking only her pets and some precious family photographs. The actress has donated $50,000 to the Malibu evacuation centre for food and blankets and another $10,000 to the animal shelter rescuing stray pets.

The fire is causing chaos in Hollywood.

Top restaurant Nobu - a favourite with Jennifer Aniston, Britney Spears and Victoria Beckham - has been closed since Sunday (21.10.07), but is serving meals to fire-fighters.

Filming for hit TV show '24' has been suspended after smoke blew over the location where Kiefer Sutherland and the crew were due to shoot.

Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott's bed and breakfast Chateau La Rue, which features in their reality TV series 'Tori and Dean: Inn Love', has also been hit.

Tori - who is away filming US TV talent show 'Dancing with the Stars' - said: "Our friend that is also our groundskeeper there, he got a reverse 911 call from the sheriff saying get out, so he said it's pandemonium. He's on the road now and the B+B is locked up. We cancelled guests for the week."

'Dancing with the Stars' contestant Jane Seymour's home has also been affected by the fire and many other stars homes could be at risk including Jennifer Aniston, Pierce Brosnan, Sting, Bill Murray, Robert Redford, Courteney Cox and her husband David Arquette, Tom Hanks, Richard Gere, Goldie Hawn and David Duchovny.

Sean Penn - whose land has been ravaged by the fire - has had his trailer completely destroyed in the blaze.

Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in seven counties and a piece of land the size of New York has already been burnt to the ground as strong winds continue to spread the fire.

(C) BANG Media International