Malibu Fire Threatens Homes

A fair-sized patch of Hollywood's best-known celebrity enclave came under threat Sunday when a fast-moving brush fire (which kicked off around 5 a.m., possibly due to power lines downed in a windstorm) began burning out of control. The main fire moved in two prongs east and west of Malibu Canyon, but fiery embers, borne on the Santa Ana winds that helped create the dry fire-prone conditions, ignited and burned at least three of the pricey residences along the nearby beach front. Also lost was a a church and the famed Malibu Castle, a distinctive hilltop mansion also known as Hodges or later, Kashan Castle. The first announced celebrity evacuations were Titanic director James Cameron, and Olivia Newton-John. Mandatory evacuations included the most prestigious row of homes in Malibu Colony, (Pepperdine University students sheltered in well-protected dorms rather than risk evacuating on the choked and smoke-strewn local highways.)

Around 3:30 p.m. Pacific Coast time as the fire grew to the day's furthest extent, and Los Angeles Fire Captain Henry Rodriguez calling the blaze "Very dynamic and devastating... with buildings being burned," the burn had spread to well over 1200 acres, moving from sea level to Saddle Peak at about 3,000 feet of elevation.

Fire crews were moving from north to south along the Pacific Coast Highway, aiming to prevent the main fire from jumping the highway, where it would victimize roadside businesses and ultimately the homes of various Malibu celebrities. In reading the list of homeowners posted on Tmz.com, be aware that most of the people named have "beach houses", which are not necessarily their primary residences: "The Malibu County and Carbon Beach residents include: Jennifer Aniston, Sting, Bill Murray, Nick Nolte, Robin Wright Penn, Mel Brooks, Howie Mandel, Tatum O'Neal, Rob Reiner, Linda Ronstadt, Jeff Bridges, David Arquette and Courteney Cox, David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg." Of course, famously or infamously, Geffen owns beach front property that's been a particular target for public interest groups seeking beachaccess. A CNN correspondent reported that Dreamworks Animation topper Jeffrey Katzenberg's front yard was so strewn with fire-prevention foam "it looked like Christmas in front of his house."

Another area of concern was the west ridge of Carbon Canyon, site of a number of substantial mansions whose denizens are sooner rich than famous.

The county's expert firefighting crews, greatly aided by firefighters from Southern California communities, were fighting what looked to be an even battle to save the endangered areas.

Other fires were taking advantage of the tinder-dry conditions (close to the worst in the region in the hundred-odd years since records have kept) south in San Diego (where there was one fatality, the only reported death) and north in Agua Dulce, where a hungry fire would spread to 12,000 acres and counting

With the sun expected to set at 6:12 p.m. (taking fixed-wing aircraft out of the fight while volunteers-only helicopter pilots kept the water drops going) and sunrise at 7:03, it looked like a long and dangerous night of fighting what firefighters have named the Canyon Fire.

(Castle Kashan near Malibu Canyon road burns to the ground, October 21, 2007; photo by J.Emilio Flores/Getty Images)