Malibu Fire
I was in Malibu and at Pepperdine University when the last big fire blew through Malibu in 1994. At that time, the conditions were similar as today’s and the inferno destroyed 350 homes and killed 3 people. What people don’t realize in so many parts of the country the hills in Southern California have burned for centuries. When the Santa Ana winds come, so do the conditions ripe for flames. This picture from Pepperdine back in 1993.
Pepperdine University is always chosen as the fire headquarters due to the way the university was built. Pepperdine’s buildings are stucco sided with tile roofs. Also, reclaimed water can within seconds soak a rim around the campus due to a sprinkler system installed years ago. Pepperdine has seen several major fires burn right around campus and this appears be yet another. What’s also so amazing is that within a year there will be little sign that a fire ever burned.
As for ths fire, humidity is around 9%, temps in the 80s and winds are gusting to 60mph. Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Frank Garraido reported this morning there is zero containment. Evacuations are in effect for Pepperdine University, Malibu Crest and Serra Retreat all places near the Malibu Canyon, Pacific Coast Highway intersection. More than 80 engines from the County, City, and Forrest Service along with 4 water helicopters and 2 water planes are fighting the fire and currently there are no injuries reported to citizens or fire personnel.
The fire was apparently sparked by high voltage power lines that fell along Malibu Canyon Road as 60-mph plus gusts raked the area overnight. The fire is burning in two prongs on both sides of Malibu Canyon. Power in much of Malibu was out, and Pacific Coast Highway is closed between Kanan-Dume Road and Topanga Canyon Road. Also Malibu Pres. Church is burning down.
Tags: malibu, Pepperdine University, Santa Ana winds
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Adam Housley has been with FNC since 2001 as a Los Angeles-based
correspondent. He has covered news ranging from wildfires in California
to political unrest in Venezuela and was one of the few reporters who
witnessed the execution of Stanley “Tookie” Williams. 
Adam - yeah, the winds here in LA were unbelievable last night — where are the water planes picking up water from? I heard somewhere off the 101 freeway, but nothing more specific than that….you have any idea?
This is horrifying… I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose everything. Casey said even Sally Fields has a house there… I love the Flying Nun. I think I heard Jonathan Hunt say his house is up the road, he must be frantic right now.
Adam said the fire jumped over a shopping mall i think… that’s pretty powerful! Hope they can get this under control soon.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the pople there, the 500+ firefighters and the reporters. Stay safe Adam.. excellent reporting.
Wow… Adam is uploading our comments in between reporting!
If I remember Pepperdine is on the side of hill. To close PCH is huge, so many people live on there.
Kathy there must be lots of people there.. sounded like they said 200 people evacuated! The houses looked so close together on the tv
Well thanks for being on here with us… what is like by you, where you’re reporting from? Is it a frantic situation or are you getting moments of down time?
From the helicopter video: (I am a long time resident of Malibu)
Malibu Presbyterian Church is gone. It also housed a preschool. The Malibu Castle is gone though the guest house survives. It looked like 3 houses on Malibu road were either destroyed or partially destroyed from the video. A structure at level 2 of Webster Elementary School (at the back of the vegetable garden) was burning. It looks like there is at least some damage to the adjacent class room. The Malibu glass shop is completely gone. I can’t tell how OLM school fared.
Anyone know if there were houses lost in Serra? The Sweetwater Mesa houses look like they all survived.
Cricket
Wow the KFI News Radio Anchor said he’s right in the middle of this next to the Presbyterian Church that burned down. The guy said his eyes are burning.
I’m not clear on this… the 1,000 students being held at Pepperdine, they’re there because it’s safe… but if they wanted to leave they can and there’s a clear path on the roads to get out right? Why would the students stay… there won’t be any classes?
black smake is bad and white smoke is better
Wow, Adam, I have many fond memories of Malibu and Zuma Beach from my old Agoura Hills days!!! I know those canyons and how dry it is there even in a good year! Great reporting on the phone during the day today! Good luck out there!
Maria
At last check the students were still on campus. Are there at least busses or some other means of mass transportation on hand in case of needing to evacuate quickly? And, while the buildings are protected with the design, what is to protect the transportation from becoming blocked?
That last report you just gave us was not a promising one Adam… the fire turnd back to the West towards the homes…it is an eerie comparrison to the ‘93 fire.
I am a parent of a Pepperdine student and I am so grateful to Fox news and their coverage.
Thank you.
Adam, it’s so cool to hear you and Laura on tv and then check the blog for more info. Not to sound heartless, but KABC preempted the Nascar race for fire coverage!! Geez!! Seriously, that’s what Fox News is for. And it’s not like we haven’t seen it before. I want the race, dammit!
Adam-
I just got home and decided to research you- for the fun of it- you graduated from Pepperdine University- and you played professional baseball?
Heck- I honestly did not know who you were- until your blog- and of course it is always interesting to know the person behind the face-
How can a picture of this negative maganitude be yet so pretty?
I thought of something you can do in about so many years- take all your pictures- forty years worth- create a book- Around the World in Forty Years- put all your pictures in this book with the story behind it- and you will have a great book- and drop one off at the nursing home where I will probably be residing!
I live in a very old small crummy mobile home. I live here because I have no money and cannot afford anything else. I am retired and on a fixed income.
I will never understand why the rich and famous who can afford to live anywhere, would chose an area that has fires and horrible winds every single year and build homes worth millions of dollars.
I don’t care how beautiful it is in Malibu, that is just plain stupid.
ml king
Marylou they can afford the best insurance in the world, and spending is no problem. That is just the way it is.
I was living in Santa Monica during the last big fire in that area. There was so much smoke and ashes were everywhere. I have a good feel for what the people there are going through right now.
Even in areas where the lower income people live, disasters can happen-
(Katrina)
If that radio guy says his eyes were burning why didn’t he leave? Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Sheeesh!!!!
- The winds look like they are enclosed between the Rockies and Sierra Nevada
Last night I saw that “11 major fires were burning in Southern California”. So, that means there must have been even more minor fires. Why. Only one blog comment indicated that one fire in the Malibu area was started by wind downing power lines. What has caused all these other fires. The numbers and vastness of area seem a little to coincidental. I find it hard to believe that fires on this scale were all by natural causes, especially since there were no lightining storms. And, not one word have I heard, in all the reports I’ve viewed on Fox News about causation. Call me paranoid; I want to know what started all these fires.
Price