Fire Hits Richard Branson's Luxury Island Retreat; Kate Winslet, Family Evacuated

In the wee early morning hours Monday, a fire broke out at the luxury retreat on Richard Branson's Caribbean home, Nekker Island. According to The Associated Press, actress Kate Winslet, her boyfriend and children were staying at the home, along with Branson's mother and daughter and several other guests, and fortunately escaped unharmed. Branson himself was staying at another property about 100 yards away with his wife and son.

The sad news is that Branson said his home was "completely destroyed" and he lost thousands of photographs in the fire. The likely cause was said to be lightening, with a severe storm hitting the island about 4:00 a.m. Monday. An island is the last place you'd think there would be concern of fire, but mother nature doesn't play favorites, and lightening strikes have been known to cause many deadly fires.

Branson's Nekker Island has been a great hideaway for many celebrities over the years, as well as an ideal location for famed couples looking for a more private wedding destination.

The latest rumor regarding Kate Winslet was that she and model Louis Dowler had reunited after a seven-month break up. In fact, as recent as this morning, an article by Pop Sugar reported that Winslet and Dowler, and Winslet's two children, Joe and Mia, were seen at London's Gatwick Airport and were possibly headed to Mexico.

I'm sure it didn't occur to Kate that a fire on Nekker Island would oust her family's whereabouts, which was obviously not Mexico. Let's just hope the news of her liaison wasn't too much of a surprise when word of the fire spread quickly over the news, like, dare I say, wild fire.

Winslet is still technically married to film director Sam Mendes, though they have been separated for nearly a year and a half. Son Joe, 7, is from that marriage, and her daughter Mia, 10, was born during her marriage to first husband Jim Threapleton.

Initially after dating Dowler for four months, Winslet broke off her relationship, saying that she wanted to be alone, according to Mail Online. Apparently Dowler had already bonded with her children, and choosing to be alone isn't always as easy as we think it might be.

Though the beautiful "Titanic" star hasn't had the best luck at finding a lasting love relationship, it is good news that her luck fared better in escaping the horrifying fire on her Caribbean vacation.