UPDATE: Thousands flee Malibu Wildfires*

By Rob Woollard in Los Angeles

November 25, 2007 02:15pm
Article from: Agence France-Presse

HOLLYWOOD stars were among 10,000 people forced to flee as wind-driven
wildfires tore through the celebrity enclave of Malibu today, gutting
nearly 50 multi-million dollar homes and threatening hundreds more.

Fires erupted at around 3.30am (10.30pm AEDT last night), officials
said, spreading rapidly through tinder-dry brush as winds gusting to up
to 80 km/h fanned the inferno.

It was the second major blaze to hit Malibu in a month.

By 5pm (12pm AEDT Sunday), around 1880 hectares had been scorched and 51
buildings, including 49 homes, had been destroyed.

A further 27 structures had been damaged, Los Angeles County Fire
Department officials said.

A drop in winds allowed firefighters to make inroads into the blaze,
which was now 25 per cent contained, officials said.

Los Angeles County fire chief Michael Freeman said that although the
fire had subsided it would "remain active through the night''.

Around 1700 firefighters were deployed to tackle the fires throughout
the day, backed up by 23 aircraft including water-dropping helicopters
and a DC-10 which was pummelling the infernos with flame retardant.

As darkness fell, most of the aircraft were grounded for safety reasons
but many ground crews remained in place, Freeman said. Six firefighters
had minor injuries.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said earlier that an
estimated 10,000 residents had been evacuated.

The cause of the fire, which began in the Corral Canyon area of Malibu,
was not known, he added.

Last month a devastating fire destroyed 1847 hectares, six homes, two
businesses and a church in Malibu.

The blaze was one of a series of infernos throughout California that
left eight people dead, destroyed 2000 homes, displaced 640,000 people
and caused more than $US1 billion ($1.15 billion) in damage.

Malibu, around 30 km west of Los Angeles, is home to celebrities such as
Mel Gibson, Sting, Jennifer Aniston, Robert Redford, Barbra Streisand,
Cher and Richard Gere.

Local media reports said actors Matthew McConaughey and Minnie Driver
were among those forced to evacuate while Red Hot Chili Peppers bass
guitarist Flea's home was destroyed by the flames.

A text message from the rock star said his $US10.5 million ($12.1
million) mansion had "burnt to a crisp'', The Los Angeles Times reported.

Actress and songwriter Linda Thompson, who has lived in Malibu for 27
years, said her home had escaped major damage but reported that a
neighbour's house had been razed by the flames.

"Unfortunately, my elderly neighbour right next door - her house burned
to the ground. She's been there 35 years,'' Thompson told local television.

''...it's just devastating,'' she added.

Mr Yaroslavsky praised authorities and residents for evacuating swiftly
at the first sign of danger.

"It's been a devastating fire but it could have been much worse,'' he said.

Los Angeles Fire captain Mike Brown said strong winds had hampered early
efforts to bring the flames under control.

"When you're dealing with a wind-driven fire, the wind dictates the
progression of the flames,'' Brown said.

"The wind creates extreme problems. Embers can carry half a mile (800
metres) from the point of origin and land on a rooftop.''