fire on the poop deck!

Photos Courtesy Paul Clark & Dustin Long

Malibu Bluffs fire contained

Jaimie Franklin
Assistant News Editor

Firefighters are now cleaning up what remains of a fire that began in Bluffs Park Monday that attracted a large crowd in Alumni Park where flames were visible.

“The neighborhood looks like a war zone,” County Fire Chief Michael Freeman said.

“Anything that was down there that could burn, did burn.”

Fueled by Santa Ana winds of up to 25 mph, investigators say the fire began in Bluffs Park at around 5 p.m., jumped across Malibu Rd. and then destroyed four ocean-front mansions and one guest house. The fire was fully contained and Pacific Coast Hwy. was reopened by 9:30 p.m.

“It was moving really fast,” student Rico Tucker said.

Officials initially reported that 10 structures were destroyed but the number was later reduced once a better assessment was possible, according to Inspector Ron Haralson of L.A. County Fire.

An unidentified individual was hospitalized for smoke inhalation and released and there were no reported injuries among firefighters. A dog sustained leg injuries but has been treated.

The Los Angeles County Arson Unit is still investigating the cause of the fire.

A red flag warning will remain in effect for the Southland until Tuesday afternoon according to the Los Angeles County Fire Dept.

Submitted 01-09-2007

PS- Just to let you all know, we're fine. We're about five miles away from it and up the canyon. Around 5:30 pm Brad called me from school and said, "I'm not going to be able to make it to the store, because it looks like its on fire..." So he got to see the coastline in flames from a balcony on campus. Pepperdine is about a mile from where it happened, and on the other side of the PCH, so they were safe too. But it was crazy to see it on the news and of course we were worried. Our first family beach trip here happened to be on Malibu Road! Weirdness. We are so grateful to be safe and that it wasn't worse than it was. But those who were affected remain in our thoughts and prayers.