Posted on 11/24/2007 4:37:19 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Celebrities flee, homes gutted as wildfire ravages Malibu Nov 24 05:47 PM US/Eastern Hollywood stars were among nearly 10,000 people forced to flee as wind-driven wildfires tore through the celebrity enclave of Malibu on Saturday, gutting at least 35 multi-million dollar homes and threatening hundreds more, officials and reports said.
Fires erupted at around 3:30 am (1130 GMT) officials said, spreading rapidly through tinder-dry brush as winds packing gusts of up to 50 mph fanned the inferno, the second major blaze to hit Malibu in the space of a month.
By 10:30 am (1830 GMT), around 2,200 acres had been scorched as the flames burned unchecked, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said.
Around 1,700 firefighters had been deployed to tackle the fires, backed up by 23 aircraft including water-dropping helicopters and a DC-10 which was pummeling the infernos with flame retardant.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky told a press conference 10,000 residents had been evacuated. Only one injury had been reported so far, a firefighter who received burns which were not thought serious, he added.
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.
Yaroslavsky said winds blowing across the region had begun to ease later Saturday, offering encouragement to firefighters. However he warned the situation could change rapidly.
"It's a very dynamic and dangerous situation," he told reporters. "The winds have died down but we need to caution everyone that winds can start again in a hurry. It does not mean people are out of danger.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Poor environmental policy that puts rats and weed welfare above human lives and property.
any Matthew pics? if Ann Coulter gets her picture up every time she's mentioned on FR, Matthew Mcconaughey definitely should!
Good!
AAAAAA-yup! ;)
You are taking my self designated title of the FR resident softy. I used this on lainie's great Drudge overview. I sure miss Drudge and lainie.
I do believe if anyone saw human distress up close and personal, they would let down barriers. I know what one's home is. Sitting in the November chill just opposite Upper Michigan in Canada.
Just a little thought before I wear out my welcome. I remember someone thoughtfully saying:
"No human being on this earth really owns anything ". They only have it on loan"
Before anyone scoffs. Think. William Randolph Hearst and his San Simeon. Winston Churchill and his Blenheim Palace and so on. Yet while one has a home and I am still working on my old former insul brick one and a half story, it really means more than a house to me. I never had anything in England.
I wish them safe return.
“How bizarre”
BUMP
“I am dismayed and shocked (to say the least) at some of the discompassionate replys from FReepers - at a time when so many peoples lives are being threatened along with their pets and their homes.”
BUMP
” read once that watching your house burn is second only to the death
of a loved one in the traumatic category.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
“
Why I love dixiechick!
: )
BUMP
Thank you, sir!
Where do FReepers get the idea that Malibu is infested with left wing celebrities? Maybe 2% of Malibu is “infested”. I have a few celebrity buddies.....one or 2 are liberal, but not “Sean Penn” liberal. The L.A. Times which is a “company town Hollywood rag” brags about all the left wing celebrities in Malibu. A knat could swat all of them away.........they constitute a tiny fraction of the populace.
Thank you very much.
Not shabby. ;o)
Awwww...that was very sweet.
Thank you. ;o)
I’m serious about the trauma.
My daughter was 3 years old at the time.
She saw the fire for no more than the 15/20 seconds it took to take her to the neighbor’s home.
Yet, she remembers it very vividly.
To this day she’s almost obsessed with making sure everything is turned off before she leaves the house, or goes to bed.
I’m hoping and praying you and yours don’t have to go through anything like that.
I’m praying, too, that they put the fires out...SOON!
This one is from before the fire. Not sure if the house is still standing.
I know what you mean, SJB.
But - even though they might think differently than we do about most things - they are also our Father’s children.
I might disagree with their politics and their way of life but I don’t wish any of them to suffer the devastation of a fire and the loss that could entail.
I have friends who are liberal, too (but, not Sean Penn liberal). We just don’t talk politics.
Frankly I am surprised that people who wish to ridicule another’s loss would want to join this forum.
And, you are right. California is certainly not all liberally inclined. Look at Duncan Hunter! ;-)
I know what you mean, SJB.
But - even though they might think differently than we do about most things - they are also our Father’s children.
I might disagree with their politics and their way of life but I don’t wish any of them to suffer the devastation of a fire and the loss that could entail.
I have friends who are liberal, too (but, not Sean Penn liberal). We just don’t talk politics.
Frankly I am surprised that people who wish to ridicule another’s loss would want to join this forum.
And, you are right. California is certainly not all liberally inclined. Look at Duncan Hunter! ;-)
Neither is my sister (a lefty that is)... I spent Thanksgiving at her house on the beach in Malibu and we left last night at 8pm, got home at 3 this morning and got a call about 4 hours later saying she had to evacuate because of these fires... She is at the bottom of the hill directly below the fires. I was just cruising her new ferrari thru these same canyon passes yesterday that are now burnt today. How very sad!
This terrain makes for impossible fire fighting efforts, and this is not a typical “clearing the underbrush issue” these fires are completely different than a typical forest fire, this is steep rugged terrain that is covered in scrub brush (generally not alot of big trees from what I remember) the fire is then are spread extremely fast by the santa ana winds blowing the glowing embers that fly miles in 50-70mph winds! Really amazing how spotty the last fire one house untouched and their neighbors burnt to the foundation. Amazing work by fire fighters too no doubt!
Prayers up for all the affected!
Libs or not for that matter...
Well, actually, its due to global warming - their homes produce too large a carbon footprint (snicker.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.