A fire broke out in Malibu on Wednesday, November 6. Smoke is seen along the coast.
BROAD FIRE:
A fire broke out on five acres near Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu Bluffs Park, around 9 a.m.
Santa Ana winds rapidly expanded the fire to about 50 acres near Pepperdine University. Dubbed the Broad Fire the fire damaged two beachfront homes.
Around 10:15 a.m., the city urged residents along Malibu Road between Webb Way and PCH to shelter in place. Northbound traffic on PCH is stopped at Malibu Canyon and PCH. Around 11 a.m., wind gusts in Malibu were at 35 to 45 mph.
Forward progress of the fire was quickly stopped, in part because flames ran into the greatest fire break of them all: the Pacific Ocean. If the fire had started further inland, it could’ve been catastrophic for even more homeowners in the area. The Los Angeles Country Fire Department said
The National Weather Service’s Los Angeles office reported wind speeds up to 51 mph and relative humidity levels of 11% in the fire area. Much of Southern California is under a red flag warning, signaling extremely critical fire conditions.
Southern California Edison also preemptively shut off power for more than 46,000 customers, including more than 12,000 in Los Angeles County on Wednesday. Power shutoffs are being considered for more than 200,000 customers due to the risk, the company said on its website.
MOUNTAIN FIRE:
Homes were, and are being, destroyed by the Mountain Fire.
The Mountain Fire began deep in the hills above Somis and Moorpark in Ventura County and was driven by the winds and pushed it towards the ocean.
Mandatory evacuations were ordered soon after it started and by mid-morning it had grown to 1,000 acres. Dangerous Santa Ana winds fanned the blaze, which ignited near the 7900 block of Bradley Road and Balcom Canyon Road shortly before 9 a.m. The Mountain Fire, as it has been named, reportedly jumped Highway 118, near Camarillo Heights, shortly after 10:45 a.m.
Winds had been clocked up to 80 mph in the area. By late afternoon, the fire had grown to 10,458 acres and at least a dozen homes have been destroyed, according to news reports. The cause of the fire is under investigation and there was no containment as of 4:30 p.m.
Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner in a news conference described sustained winds of 50 mph with gusts over 80 mph in the area of Wednesday’s Santa Ana-whipped blaze. Firefighters from Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Kern and Orange counties as well as Cal Fire responded to help.
“Every helicopter, every fixed wing aircraft, everything we’ve been able to get a hold of is here fighting this fire,” Gardner said, at a 4 p.m. news conference. “It is moving at a dangerous rate of spread. This fire has spotted more than 2 1/2 miles out in front of itself.”
He urged those who get an evacuation order to leave, saying this is not a fire that someone can wait to see what happens.
“Bushes are burning, grass is burning, hedgerows are burning, agricultural fields are burning, and structures are burning,” Gardner said. “This fire is moving dangerously fast.”
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office posted a video on social media, saying the Mountain Fire was quickly moving toward Saticoy.
Highway 118 was closed in all directions in the Somis area, California Highway Patrol officials said.
Southern California Edison has shut off power in sections of Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Camarillo, Somis, Simi Valley, Santa Paula and Piru, among other areas. The utility company had lines de-energized to prevent electrical equipment from sparking a fire — outages called Public Safety Power Shutoffs, or PSPS.
“We really do it as a last resort to protect our communities, especially when these weather conditions elevate the risk of wildfire,” said Diane Castro, a company spokesperson.
As the fire pushes towards the ocean, there are more neighborhoods that could be in danger.
Smoke billows up from the Mountain Fire in Ventura County.
RED FLAG WARNING:
A National Weather Service “Red Flag Warning went into effect at 11 a.m. November 5 and will continue until November 8 at 11 a.m. There was a prediction of low humidity and 60-80 mph winds. For the City of Los Angeles, forecasts predict the most significant risk to be Wednesday morning through Wednesday night, with the strongest gusts affecting the mountains and foothills throughout the City of Los Angeles, with possible isolated gusts of 80-100 mph.
Parking Restrictions in high-risk area (all of Pacific Palisades) went into effect 8 a.m. today, November 6 and will continue at least 24 hours. Red Flag Warnings alert residents to extreme wildfire events.
It is suggested that residents who live in Very High Fire Severity Zones take the following steps:
- Sign up for NotifyLA alerts and encourage your neighbors to do so as well.
- Leave your phone on to receive Notify LA alerts even if you are sleeping and don’t use “do not disturb” mode during high-risk weather.
- Monitor LAFD Alerts to see updates on Red Flag Parking Restrictions and active fire incidents in the City of Los Angeles.
- Put your go-bag by the front door. Ensure that you have all essential items ready.
- Plan multiple evacuation routes in your home in the event of a fire.
- Establish two meeting places outside your home: one you can walk to and another you can drive to. Inform all household members of these two meeting places.
- Park off-street. Back your car into your driveway or garage, leaving streets clear for emergency vehicles.