Wildfire Engulfs Homes Above Malibu

A fast-moving wildfire pushed by Santa Ana winds raced through the canyons and mountains of this wealthy enclave for the second time in little more than a month Saturday, destroying more than 30 homes and forcing as many as 14,000 residents to flee.

The fire erupted shortly before 3:30 a.m. PST after the long-predicted Santa Anas finally returned, and by late morning it had grown to 2,200 acres, or about 3.5 square miles, but winds began to die down.

Read AP article

Read local coverage of the wildfire from the LA Times

See map of the fire

Comments

[jny50]

Malibu, Global warming, and the war on terror:

The recent wild fires in California demonstrate the futility of the current war on terror. Millions are spent on sophisticated detection devices and plans to respond to terrorists. Yet, imagine the damage that could be done by 10 terrorists each with one match in California. Look what happens from a random careless camper fire. Imagine if 10 terrorists intentionally wanted to start 10 separate wild fires in California. They study the geography, the wind patterns, etc. How do you prevent that? How do you screen for that? The fires are an example of how the problems in the environment and terrorism are linked. Our Nation’s policies should be on long term solutions, not short term “fixes”. Instead of trying to put out the fires “over there” in Iraq, let us instead make it a world where they do not want to light the match in the first place. Diplomacy, admitting our mistakes, and getting off our addiction to oil would be good first steps.

[maxfusion]

The two words "fleeing celebrities" gives me a warm, and fuzzy feeling. By the way, I used to survey in that area in the fifties. It was know by locals as the "tinder box". Every home that burns is a cause for celebration, and in no way should they receive a dime in tax relief. Run Hollywood scum, run for your lives. The "hills that walk" will ultimately reclaim what is theirs. Don't mistake the roar as the fire's voice, when in fact, it's the laughter of the Chumash elders.

[MajorKong]

Only Ron Paul can prevent wildfires!

[helonias]

Building homes in a fire derived ecosystem is the flaw.

[abqnmboy]

WHY haven't we heard anything about the wildfire here in New Mexico?

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - A fire burning in steep, rugged areas of the Manzano Mountains is now 50 percent contained. That word from fire information officer Arlene Perea.

The Ojo Peak Fire broke out early Monday. It remained small until Wednesday evening, when winds whipped it into a blaze of several thousand acres. Fire officials had estimated it 7,500 acres burned. But Perea says that because of more accurate mapping, the charred area has been put at 6,969 acres.

The fire isn't active right now. Perea says fire crews are standing by because weather conditions have made it too dangerous to fight the blaze right now. She says roads are icy and the northwest end of the fire is burning in rough terrain of the Manzano Wilderness.

Several homes and structures have been destroyed...

[mamacat]

Southern California, and the whole southwest of the U.S., is in the middle of the worst drought since records started being kept back in the 1870s.
Worst drought on record + annual santa ana winds = terrible fires.
The fires are a disaster, and anyone who is subjected to a disaster, rich or poor, deserves our sympathy and assistance.
A long time ago I knew quite a few people who lived out there, and they were most of them fantastic people.

[Bernique]

After a while you begin to wonder if some of those "happentances" are "happenstances". Just sayin'

[maxy]

I'm looking for someone to come along who can Connect The Dots on the California Initiative electorial votes for 2008; or whatever the hell the stealing is all about. I'm sure Hollywood is paying attention.

[GrapevineDaily]

**********­**********­**********­**********­******

For news and helpful links on the Southern California Wild Fires please visit the
Fire Victims Center: I found it rather informative and concise.

www.cafires.info

[GrapevineDaily]

For news and helpful links on the Southern California Wild Fires please visit the
Fire Victims Center: I found it rather informative and concise.

www.cafires.info

[Zhonni]

Not again! What is happening out there in California?

It seems the last major fire was just yesterday, now this?!

I don't think I can get paid to live in those fire prone areas. Of course, I don't have the emotional attachment that people who live there have. Anyways, best of luck to all and I hope no lives are lost.

[HumeSkeptic]

Many on this thread have expressed that they have zero sympathy for people living in areas prone to fires. Just to be consistent, I hope they also have appropriately low sympathy for those living in areas prone to earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, heavy snow storms, large hale, high winds and heavy rainfall.

And while they are at it, they should also lower their sympathy for those living in areas with high pollution, heavy traffic congestion, oil spills, high crime, bad roads and old or defective bridges.

[givemycountryback]

I lived in Cal. for 5 years but north of Malibu. There are no forest there, just this little scrub stuff that burns. I think Southern Calif is so barren and ugly and yes it is a desert. I just hope the rest of the country's insurance rates don't go up because of these fires. Sure, the rest of the country has disasters, but not nearly as often as Ca. and their real estate prices are so high, a house that would sell for $100,000. anywhere else going for a million. They can have the place.

[lovethesinner]

These fires are being set by Blackwater who are building a base in San Diego. They want to increase their value in case congress rightly kicks them out of Iraq, and Afghanistan. Then they will be used in the clean up of the next 9/11 scheduled for summer of '08, to arrest any left wing and progressive groups using the recently passed Military Commisions Act, and Home Grown Terrorists resolution.

The election will be canceled, of course.

(Looks like Australia might be a nice place to live after all.)

[loki]

Fires in California are like fires in Australia. It happens every year. It always will, it always has. Its only the really big fires that are real news anymore.