Kate Winslet escapes fire; Richard Branson's Great House destroyed

The elements have it in for Kate Winslet.

The "Titanic" star and her two children (Mia, 10 and Joe, 7) were staying on Richard Branson's private isle, Necker, in the Virgin Islands when a fire broke out during a storm early Monday (Aug. 22) morning.

Winslet, her brood and 17 other guests were evacuated from the 8-bedroom Great House before the flames completely consumed the structure.

Staying with his wife and son in another building nearby, Branson blogs, "My office was based in the house and I have lost thousands of photographs and my notebooks, which is very sad. But all family and friends are well - which in the end is all that really matters."

Branson also credits Winslet with saving his 90-year-old mother: "Many thanks to Kate Winslet for helping to carry my 90 year mum out of the main house to safety - she was wondering when a Director was going to shout CUT!"

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but lightning seems to head the list of suspects.