Fire cuts swath through Malibu Hills
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Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times Malibu resident Jim Palmer covers his face from the wind-driven smoke from the Canyon Fire in Malibu Canyon this morning.
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Low humidity and gusts of up to 50 mph drove the fire, sending embers flying, Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman. The fire will likely threaten thousands of homes over the next several days, he said.
By noon Sunday, the blaze had burned 1,000 acres, destroying three homes and two commercial buildings but had not caused any injuries. Nine other homes were damaged and four businesses in the Colony Creek shopping center were damaged.
"The wind is a fairly tremendous challenge to the firefighters," Freeman said. "They're working gallantly on the lines trying to protect the structures."
He said the fire was moving east toward the Carbon Canyon area.
-Jack Leonard