Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may be forced to evacuate their $29 million Montecito mansion this week as wildfires threaten the area and power companies consider cutting electricity.
According to a report by the New York Post, Southern California Edison (SCE) is considering a “Public Safety Power Shutoff” in parts of Santa Barbara County due to the wildfire risk. The fire closest to the Sussexes’ home is currently burning in the Malibu area, approximately 70 miles away. However, there is concern that the blaze could spread rapidly, with tree-toppling winds bringing the fire to drier areas. Emergency responders have faced additional challenges, reporting bone-dry hydrants hindering firefighting efforts.
The Sussexes purchased their 18,000-square-foot home in 2020 for $14.65 million. The property, located in a “high fire risk” area, has doubled in value to $29 million, according to Zillow.
An estimated 70,000 SCE customers were without power on Wednesday morning, with over 35,000 affected in Los Angeles County alone. Tens of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes in Southern California as the inferno continues to spread via winds gusting over 100 miles per hour.
An additional 779 outages affecting up to 42,000 more customers have been scheduled by SCE. Impacted customers, including those in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s neighborhood, have been contacted by the power company. The potential power shutoffs are part of precautionary measures to prevent electrical equipment from sparking new fires in the dry and windy conditions.
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California has been experiencing increasingly severe wildfire seasons, with dry conditions and high winds contributing to the rapid spread of fires across the state. Montecito, an affluent community known for its luxurious properties and celebrity residents, has not been immune to these dangers. In recent years, wildfires have forced frequent evacuations and caused significant property damage in the area.
At least 30,000 people are currently under evacuation orders. The mass evacuations have led to traffic gridlocks, with some residents abandoning their vehicles to flee on foot. Among those evacuated are Hollywood celebrities such as Ben Affleck and James Woods per Page Six.
The Sussexes’ neighbors include high-profile figures such as Oprah Winfrey and, until recently, Ellen DeGeneres. Montecito has long been a haven for the wealthy and famous, but its location in a high-fire-risk area poses ongoing threats. In previous years, the community has dealt with both wildfires and subsequent mudslides caused by heavy rains following fires.
Representatives for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not yet commented on the situation.
