Malibu Blaze 25% Contained

Six firefighters receive minor injuries
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 24, 2007 6:08 PM CST
Malibu Blaze 25% Contained
A wind driven brush fire burns out of control in Malibu, Calif. on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007. A fast-moving wildfire destroyed about 20 homes and spread through the canyons and hills above Malibu on Saturday, forcing hundreds of residents to flee. No injuries were reported. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)   (Associated Press)

Firefighters have contained 25% of the Malibu fire that scorched 4,700 acres yesterday, burned 49 homes, and forced thousands to evacuate, the Los Angeles Times reports. "The effort will be to try to pick it up, catch it and nail it before it continues to move westward," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman. Six firemen also suffered minor injuries.

About 1,700 firemen and 23 planes are fighting the fire, which officials say is the worst Malibu blaze in almost 15 years. But firefighters got some relief when Santa Ana winds fell from 57 mph to about 20 mph, CNN reports. Arson investigators, who blame the blaze on "human activity," are investigating a claim that campers may have started it. (More Los Angeles stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X