Martin Sheen and wife escape forest fire

Martin Sheen

Catholic actor Martin Sheen and his wife Janet were forced to flee their home in Malibu, California on Saturday, as the area was engulfed by a massive forest fire.

For a time the family were unable to contact them. Son Charlie Sheen wrote on Twitter: "I cannot get hold of my parents Martin and Janet Sheen, They are in the group, at the staging ground near Zuma Beach. If anyone has eyes on them, please let me know that they are safe and sound in the middle of this horrific scenario."

A few hours later Martin spoke with a TV crew and said he and his wife were safe and well. He said he thought their house has probably gone, but added: "We haven't lost any lives so we've got that to be grateful for."

"We evacuated early this morning from Point Dume around 9.30, and we've been here ever since. Emilio, Ramon, Renee, Charlie... we're fine.. We're at Zuma Beach and will probably sleep in the car tonight. We're just fine and hope you guys are, too."

About 30,000 homes have been evacuated. The death toll has risen to 25. More than 100 people have been reported missing.

Martin said he has experienced forest fires in the past - but nothing of the scale and intensity of this one.

Update: The Sheen's home survived the the fire. When they managed to return to their neighbourhood they found many homes lost but their's although covered in ash, has escaped the blaze.

Watch the interview on Sky News: https://news.sky.com/video/martin-sheen-california-fires-worst-ive-seen-11551053

Among his many roles, Martin Sheen starred in The Way, directed by his son Emilio Estevez see: www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=17731