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 ...
THANK YOU MY SWEET GAL! I’m pretty sad right now. ....Pictures ........books....et al.
Those are on the street I just moved from recently! I know the person who built/lived in that house! Those are the house three away from us on the corner, and the other was next door!
I know...
...my heart is with you.
Losing little things are the worst, too.
I remember my little daughter’s life jacket hanging on the wall.
It was a crispy critter...and it’s the saddest memory I have.
You are most welcome.
Don’t think you are alone.
Yikes! When you posted earlier about being stuck in escrow, I thought you were buying! (Note to self: read slower)
So sorry for your loss!
“A Flea and a Fly in a flue
Were trapped! OH, What could they do?
Said the Fly, “Let us flee!”
Said the Flea, “Let us fly!”
So they flew through a flaw in the flue”
You beat me to it! LOL!
The top picture is at least 3 years old.
Regards
Your homepage said you 'just left' California for Arizona.
..Did you change your mind and move back?...just curious
“Here are some photos taken by a friend of a friend during last month’s southern California fires:”
Those pictures are so terrifying and sad that they brought tears to my eyes. God bless all who suffer, man and beast.
The trouble is that "stupid tax" will be extended to all of us who purchase homeowners insurance.....
You’re right. That picture is several years old and not California, as I recall. I believe that’s from the Yellowstone fires.
Anyway, I had heard that said person has purchased a $10million estate there not 3 months ago. Maybe he should have stayed in the trailer with his girlfriend....
Well, Bless your heart...aren't you just the sweetest, most caring person ever! /s Thanksgiving didn't have much of an impact on you, did it?
I'm with NordP. I don't care who it is, if you've ever been awakened at 3am to evacuate, it's horrifying! A little compassion is warranted imo.
Free Flea!
I had to evacuate from Rancho Bernardo last month so I know how scary these fires are!
Oh no! I've only just now caught up with this thread and have read of your terrible loss! Sending prayers your way but wish I could do more.
We just showed visiting relatives the damage done during the San Diego fires last month and it is truly devastating. I hope you got some of your things out. When we evacuated last month, I didn't have time to get all the family photos so I hope that you did.
Keeping you in my prayers!
TAMU beat texas (t.u.) by a score of 38-30 on Friday afternoon/evening.
FRiends,
These pics were forwarded to me by a friend. His friend in San Diego sent them to him stating that he took these pictures.
I can’t explain how the first photo was included in the mix. Mfccinsd...are the other pics which you mentioned having recognized, from this last month’s fire?
Yes, and I have copies of them on my computer since all of the old neighborhoods I’d lived in were virtually destroyed and we had been looking for pics to show friends.
They are from Poway and the Monday that the fires were bad in San Diego last month (the three of the homes are...the first and the last I can’t place). I believe the friend of your friend must work for the paper here, as I’m quite sure they were from one of the SD Union-Tribune photogs.
ZNo I am in Arizona. The property was for sale.
Reprinting your post for those who need to know what the truth is:
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...
Thank you very much.
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