Southland Wildfires Spread

0

A wildfire driven by powerful Santa Ana winds on Sunday destroyed at least five Malibu businesses, damaged several at a shopping center, and threatened dozens more, including the Hughes Lab research complex and toymaker JAKKS Pacific Inc.


More than 800 firefighters from agencies around the state have responded to the mutual aid request from L.A. County Fire, and several hundred more were enroute. Crews were battling at least 11 fires around Southern California, including near Castaic and Moorpark.


Downed power lines are suspected to have sparked the Canyon Fire in the hills above Pepperdine University, which was first reported at around 5 a.m. More than 2,200 acres were charred as of early evening, according to the Los Angles County Fire Department, but no serious injuries had been reported.


Among the early property casualties were Malibu Presbyterian Church and Castle Kashan, a local landmark. At least five homes have been destroyed in the affluent community of 13,000 people, and several more damaged.


Gusting winds pushed embers across the Pacific Coast Highway, causing damage to some beachfront homes and several storefronts at Malibu Colony Shopping Center. At least one outbuilding caught fire at HRL Laboratories Inc., the Hughes Lab complex a mile north of Pepperdine. The Pepperdine campus was not evacuated, but students were told not to leave the grounds.


Hundreds of homes and several business districts were under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders, such as at the intersection of Sweetwater Canyon Drive, near Jakks’ corporate headquarters. Businesses in the city are particularly vulnerable to wildfires given the narrow strip of land available for commercial development between the Malibu Hills and the 27 miles of PCH within city limits.


PCH was closed between Topanga Canyon Road and S. Kanan Dune Road, along with several canyon roads in the area. Authorities say the Monday morning commute will be affected. Classes at Pepperdine, where students are preparing for mid-terms, have been cancelled.


Elsewhere, the more than 10,000-acre Agua Dulce Fire in the Canyon Country area destroyed 10 structures and prompted the evacuation of more than 800 homes.

No posts to display