Kate Winslet: HERO in fire!

See that awful blaze? It's Sir Richard Branson's Caribbean home on fire, and KATE WINSLET and her two young children were in there!

The blaze hit early early this morning (Monday) after the 90mph Hurricane Irene tore into Branson's £60 million private island. All 20 guests were forced to flee the multi-million-pound 8-bedroom abode in their pajamas. The house was apparently struck by lightning.

Luckily, none of the guests (including Kate and her kids) were hurt.

Kate not only emerged safely with her kids, but she actually carried Richard's 90-year-old mother Eve in her arms to safety as the house was falling down on them.

Here's Richard's account (via Daily Mail): We had a really bad tropical storm with winds up to 90mph. A big lightning storm came around 4am and hit the house. It took hold incredibly quickly, with flames 100ft high. It ripped through the house very quickly.

Sam [Richard's 25-year-old son] heard explosions in the main house and raised the alarm. He and my nephew Jack rushed to the house and helped get everyone out.

Kate Winslet, her boyfriend and her family were there and Holly and some of her friends were also staying. My mother was there and they managed to get her out and she is fine. ...It was she [Kate Winslet] who carried my mother out of the house. She said it was like being on a film set where you’re waiting for the words “cut” but they just don’t come. So it was quite surreal for her to be in a real-life situation.

She carried my Mum out of the house. My Mum is 90 and can walk but it was more just to speed the process up than anything else but anyway, she was great. She swept her up into her arms and got them out of the house as fast as possible. Go KATE!

Kate's two children are Mia (10) from her first marriage to Jim Threapleton, and Joe (7) from her second marriage to director Sam Mendes, from whom she is now separated. And the boyfriend Richard mentioned above is rumoured to be model Louis Dowler.

I think another great part of the story is Richard running NAKED with his wife and son from their separate villa to the house, shortly after 4am. Read full details of the amazing story here. Very happy to report everyone was safe!

Love!

xo Haley-O

Photo: Fame Pictures | Source