Gerard Butler/InstagramGerard Butler returned to his Malibu home to find it completely burned down by fire in California.
Raging wildfires began on Thursday (November 8), and are sweeping through both ends of the American state. They have become some of the most destructive and deadliest fires in state history.
According to CNN, more than 300,000 people have been forced from their homes, including 170, 000 people evacuated from Los Angeles County.
GettyButler returned to his home on Saturday (November 10) to find it completely ravaged by the blaze known as the Woolsey Fire.
He shared a picture of the devastation to his Instagram page, where he praised the firefighters who are working relentlessly against the flames.
The actor had a face mask ready to protect himself from smoke in the air as he stood in front of his scorched home.
Butler captioned the photo:
Returned to my house in Malibu after evacuating. Heartbreaking time across California. Inspired as ever by the courage, spirit and sacrifice of firefighters.
Thank you @LosAngelesFireDepartment. If you can, support these brave men and women at SupportLAFD.org.
Butler is one of many celebrities who evacuated the area, and others have also taken to social media to share the destruction caused by the fires.
Actor Rainn Wilson explained how the blaze had skimmed his property, missing it by a dozen yards.
He wrote:
Thank for your Twitter love. We are safe and sound (oversees), our animals were rescued and our house (barely) spared. The fire roared down the creek bed behind our house and missed it by a dozen yards!
Thousands of others have lost homes and pets and precious belongings. Especially the residents of Paradise who have lost lives. Thanks to the AMAZINGLY brave scores of firefighters that saved hundreds of homes and lives. Send prayers AND support! #ParadiseStrong
The Woolsey Fire and Hill Fire, another of the wildfires, are together responsible for the destruction of 179 structures, while a third, known as the Camp Fire, has destroyed an estimated 6,700 buildings, CNN report.
As of Sunday, the fires are thought to have taken the lives of around 31 California residents, with many more people still unaccounted for.
GettyFormer President Barack Obama expressed his thanks to the hardworking firefighters on Twitter, writing:
Michelle and I are heartbroken for everybody who’s lost so much in California, and grateful for the heroism of the firefighters who’ve been risking their lives around the clock to save others. Please do what you can to help our fellow Americans in need.
Michelle and I are heartbroken for everybody who’s lost so much in California, and grateful for the heroism of the firefighters who’ve been risking their lives around the clock to save others. Please do what you can to help our fellow Americans in need: https://t.co/13rm1D6Rwk
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 12, 2018
The destruction is truly devastating; our thoughts are with all those affected.
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.