by Roberta Murphy
The Malibu fire started early this morning just before 3:30 a.m. near Malibu Lake and Mesa Peak Canyon–and as of this writing, has destroyed over 35 homes. Propelled by strong Santa Ana winds and fed by dry brush and trees, this Thanksgiving weekend wildfire is currently out of control.
Over 1500 acres burned in the first five hours as huge walls of fire and smoke raged through the canyons. It jumped Pacific Coast Highway and is heading toward the Pacific Ocean, with winds gusting up to 60 miles per hour. There are sustained winds of around 30 mph.
Multi-million dollar luxury homes are in flames.
Hundreds of homes in Malibu communities have been evacuated, as has Pepperdine University, where students are urged to congregate at the campus shelter. The local Malibu high school is being used as a community shelter.
Hundreds of firefighters, aided by at least 10 water-dropping helicopters, are battling the blazes.
Southern California had been warned about the weekend Santa Ana wind conditions, and hundreds of firefighters are mobilizing.
This report will be updated during the day….
Roberta – when I saw that online last night I was so sorry to see that it was happening once again to that area. I hope you’re far enough away to be ok.
Sharon:
Thanks for your thoughts and concern.
San Diego is distant from Malibu, but for a small exclusive community, they have been hit especially hard this year. Mudslides could be a real issue for Malibu if the rains ever come.