Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Wind-driven wildfires strike Malibu again, destroying dozens of homes in wealthy enclave

A fast-moving wildfire pushed by seasonal winds raced through the canyons and over the mountains of the wealthy enclave of Malibu for the second time in little more than a month, destroying dozens of homes and forcing as many as 14,000 residents to flee.

The fire erupted in the wee hours after the long-predicted Santa Anas finally returned, and it quickly grew before the winds died down. Forty-nine homes were destroyed and another 27 damaged, said Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman.

By midafternoon the fire was estimated at 4,500 acres (1,800 hectares), or about 7 square miles (18 square kilometers), with 25 percent containment.

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