Schof.org

I received an e-mail from someone asking about road closures in Malibu after the fire:

HI JOHN:

I SAW A BLOG WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.

I AM HOPING YOU CAN TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ROAD CLOSURES IN
THE MALIBU AREA AS WE ARE TRAVELING WITH MAPQUEST.

IS LAS VIRGINES CLOSED? WE ARE TRYING TO REACH A HOME IN THE MAHOU
RIVIERA AREA FROM A BURBANK HOTEL TAKING VENTURA FWY.

I APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE YOU MAY HAVE FOR ME.

I normally don’t answer messages in ALL CAPS, {grin} but I figured if one person is asking, probably more people are curious.

The LA County Department of Public Works shows no road closures from the fire. (Some lane closures due to storms, but all date from 2005 — and it’s still very possible to get around the lane closures.)

The City of Calabasas says, “Malibu Canyon is now OPEN but subject to intermittent closure for electrical repairs.” They don’t list any other roads as closed.

The City of Malibu says that, “The Fire Department reports that the access roads to Rambla Pacifico are currently open to residents only, with identification. There are no other reported road closures. Please avoid Civic Center Way between Cross Creek and Webb Way as this is a Fire staging area.”

(This is typical of the type of information I was working with during the fire. While there was often a general consensus between sources, they often differed on details.)

To answer the person’s specific question: Las Virgenes Rd. / Malibu Canyon Rd are intermittently closed. You could certainly get through, but you might have to wait. Kanan Dume Rd. is probably a better bet for you.

(It’s nice to be able to write good news here.)

Tipster Michelle E. sent in the following:

EPA Offers Tips to Protect Health from Wildfire Smoke

During the current wave of forest fires, EPA has the following recommendations on how to protect your health from the effects of smoke.

• Pay attention to local air quality reports and stay alert to any news coverage or health warnings related to smoke. Air quality reports are based on data from local air quality monitors, recommending health precautions. Recent information is available at http://www.epa.gov and www.airnow.gov.
• Use common sense. If it looks smoky outside, avoid physical outside activities and don’t let your children play outdoors.
• If you are advised to stay indoors, keep indoor air as clean as possible. Keep your windows and doors closed — unless it’s extremely hot outside.
• Run your air conditioner, if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.
• If you don’t have an air conditioner, staying inside with the windows closed may be dangerous in extremely hot weather. In these cases, seek alternative shelter.
• When indoors, avoid smoking and using:
  wood fireplaces
  • gas logs
  • gas stoves
  • candles
  • the vacuum
• If you have asthma or other lung disease, make sure you follow your doctor’s directions about taking your medicines and following your asthma management plan. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.
• If you have heart or lung disease, if you are an older adult, or if you have children, talk with your doctor about whether and when you should leave the area.
  For more information about health hazards related to wildfires, visit the Web site of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires.
  Click here for additional news on Environmental Protection magazine’s Web site, posted daily.
  Also search the Web site’s archives for additional articles related to wildfires, including: “Study: Wildfires Unleash Sequestered Mercury In Wetlands.”

Updates will be sketchy today; I’m at work and will be trying to get actual work done. Still evacuated; don’t know when I’ll be going back. Traffic in general in LA area a complete nightmare today, especially since Topanga is closed to traffic. Two+ hours to get to work today.

Update 10:10 AM: LA County Fire says 2400+ acres burned; still 0% containment.

Update 10:18 AM: Pepperdine updated their emergency page at 9:45 AM:

All classes on the Malibu campus have been cancelled for today, Oct. 22. Only critical support personnel should report to campus via PCH south from Kanan Dume Rd. The Pepperdine graduate campuses outside of Malibu will be open and classes will be held. Only critical communication systems, such as email, Internet connectivity, and telephone services, will likely be available today.

Students, faculty, and staff members who were relocated to the Tyler Campus Center, Payson Library, and Firestone Fieldhouse were allowed to return to their dorms and on-campus residences around 2 p.m. yesterday. All have been requested not to leave campus.

All roads leading to Pepperdine University are closed.

For regularly updated information, please call the toll free emergency hotline at (888) 286-5659.

Update 10:20 AM: More news from HereInMalibu, with photos:

Deep in the canyons the fire still burns, though nothing like the infernos in Canyon Country or San Diego County. Here in Malibu we’re in the watchful, woeful mode, just beginning to absorb the changes to our little town. Winds are high and so dry, your skin stretches tight and your lips crack. PCH is clamped shut, strict roadblocks at Puerco Canyon and Kanan Road. The Civic Center is a staging area for everyone who has a hand in keeping us safe.

Update 10:24 AM: From National Interagency Fire Center:

2,400 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is two miles north of Milibu. Mandatory evacuations were implemented in Monte Nido, Malibu Colony, Malibu Road, Sweetwater Canyon, Puerco Canyon, Carbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, Rambla Pacifica, Big Rock and Topanga Canyon tactical zone 8. Several roads in the area are closed.

Update 10:26 AM: Another bulletin with photo from HereInMalibu:

Our fire, about 2,500 acres, is now 10 percent contained. It burns east of Carbon Canyon, though with high winds, all parts of the city remain on alert. All schools here and in Topanga are closed.

Update 10:34 AM: More news from HereInMalibu:

The major update at this time: tanker planes now fighting the fire, which burns with renewed vigor, in Carbon Canyon area.

“Renewed vigor” in Carbon Canyon area is bad for Topanga.

Update 11:26 AM: LA County Fire confirms 10% containment figure.

Update 11:36 AM: Fire Fact Sheet from Malibu City:

This information was provided by the Fire Department:

Time of Alarm: 4:55 a.m. Sunday, October 21, 2007

Acres burned: 2400 acres

Current condition: 10% contained

Expected containment time: Unknown

Firefighters assigned: 1446+

Structures burned: 5 single family dwellings, 1 church, 1 commercial trailer

Structures damaged: 9 single family dwellings, 5 commercial businesses

Evacuation status: 500 homes / approximately 1500 people

Only really new information on fact sheet is that almost 1500 firefighters are assigned to the Malibu Fire. I suspect that the evacuation count does not include people (like me!) who live outside Malibu.

Update 10:39 AM: Malibu City Evacuation Status page has more detail on where in Topanga mandatory evacuation stops and voluntary starts.

Per information from the Fire Department:

All Mandatory evacuations remain in effect. The Topanga and Sunset Mesa voluntary evacuations also remain in place. Be alert and be prepared and continue to monitor television and radio news.

Mandatory evacuations:ﾠ Malibu Knolls, Malibu Colony, SweetwaterﾠCanyon, Malibu Road, ﾠCarbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, Puerco Canyon, Rambla Pacifico, Monte Nido, Big Rock and Topanga Canyon south of Saddle Peak and Tuna Canyon

Voluntary evacuations:ﾠ Corral Canyon, Sunset Mesa, Old Topanaga Canyon, Hillside Drive and areas south

Red Cross Evacuation Centers have been set up at Agoura High School and Palisades High School.ﾠ

Update 11:49 AM: From LA Times:

The fire was pushed by winds that strengthened early today and threatened to continue east to Las Flores Canyon, a rustic community evacuated at 3 a.m.
…

Carbon Canyon is narrow, traversed by a serpentine two-lane road. Multimillion-dollar homes are along the ridgelines.

“We’re going to have this kind of activity every time the wind kicks up,” said Edward Osorio, a Los Angeles County Fire Department inspector. “We still only have 10% containment here, which is not a heck of a lot.”

Sheriff’s deputies who had assembled in Malibu began heading out to Las Flores Canyon to warn residents of the danger.

“We’ll be going door to door,” said one deputy as he headed off in his cruiser.

More than 1,500 firefighters were battling the blaze in Malibu. On Sunday, helicopters had been especially valuable, dropping retardant. The aircraft were on the ground during the night, but some reconnaissance flights resumed this morning with full aerial attacks expected later.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Bob Goldman stood this morning on the driveway of Fire Station No. 70 at Carbon Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway. Flames headed his way.

“This fire really fooled me. Last night when I went to bed I thought, ‘Ah, this fire is just going to punk around on the hillside, it’s not particularly active.’ But when I woke up this morning, I was shocked. I never thought it would reach my fire station.”

Like many fire officials, he said he was worried that the fire was on the verge of moving into nearby Las Flores Canyon, just to the east. The canyon is a designated “trigger point,” meaning that if it becomes engulfed in flames, plans call for ordering the evacuation of the 12,000 to 14,000 people who live in Topanga Canyon to the east.

I assume Las Flores Canyon is the trigger point for mandatory evacuation, because they’ve already called for voluntary evacuation of Topanga.

Other fires in the area are also wreaking havoc; they are diverting resources from Malibu to Orange County and San Diego. Appropriately, in my opinion — apparently 250,000 people have been evacuated in San Diego county.

Update 12:03 PM: According to City of Malibu Evacuation Information, Piuma Road south of Saddle Peak has been added to Voluntary evacuation list.

Update 12:05 PM: New from HereInMalibu

Cruising around Malibu this morning, the little red pickup offering a bit of camouflage amid all the red rescue vehicles.

Ralphs open and oddly empty. Firefighters resting and listening to scanners, buying something to drink. Clerks worried and heaping blessings upon us.

Here’s the clock tower next to Diedrich’s. Below that, especially ominous to a mobile home dweller like me, the melted remains of a construction trailer.

Update 12:10 PM: City Of Malibu has a not-particularly informative fire map. I can’t see road names or exactly where stuff is. My Google Map also updated, but since I can’t watch TV here, fire info not as recent. New info from Pepperdine’s emergency site:

Pepperdine University officials continue to work closely with local, county, and state fire officials regarding the Malibu Canyon fire.

At the present time, students, faculty, and staff on the Malibu campus remain safe following a brief period of being sheltered in place yesterday. All have been requested not to leave campus. All roads leading to the Malibu campus are closed. Information about the latest road closures is available on the road condition hotline at (310) 506-ROAD.

All classes on the Malibu campus have been cancelled for today, Oct. 22. All Pepperdine campuses outside Malibu are open for classes.

A decision will be made later today whether Malibu campus classes will be held tomorrow, Oct 23. Another update will be posted at 4 p.m.

Update 12:34 PM: LA County Fire has their own Google Map up. RCMurphy is posting more photos around Malibu Center.

Update 12:40 PM: Wanted to highlight this comment — see the original in the comments at the bottom of the page. This is about the City of Malibu fire map I mentioned earlier.

Did a quick photoshop superimposition of the Malibu map over a Google hybrid map, and it looks like you’d expect, based on the reports:
Malibu canyon to a little south of Piuma (northern extent); the pocket of untouched area near PCH is Cross Creek and near the Serra Retreat.

The eastern extent is past Sweetwater, nearing but about halfway between Sweetwater and Carbon Mesa.

As far as I can tell, assuming my overlay was lined up right.

Update 1:33 PM: News from HereInMalibu — Wind shift is bad news.

Upper Las Flores Canyon now in flames.

We can see lines of helicopters, which tank up at Pepperdine, vanish into the smoke as they dump water on the fire.

Noon. We feel it, see it, begin to gather on the bluff.

Wind shifts, fire shifts, and the first tiny tongue of flame appears.

Given what we’ve heard previously about fire in Las Flores triggering mandatory evacuations in Topanga, Topanga residents can probably expect to be told to leave shortly.

Update 1:42 PM: And there it is. I’m working from multiple, sometimes conflicting sources of information here — and I’m safely ensconced in Santa Monica where I can’t see anything firsthand — but it looks like all of Topanga is being evacuated. The below list includes “Topanga” (unqualified for the first time) and “Southwest portion of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.” This is timestamped 1:35 PM from the LA Times website:

The fires that swept through Malibu, Canyon Country and other parts of Southern California on Sunday forced several thousand residents to evacuate, triggered numerous road closures and prompted officials to cancel classes today at Pepperdine University and six schools in the Malibu area.

Canyon Fire in Malibu

Mandatory evacuations:

*Topanga Canyon

*Malibu Crest

*Serra Retreat

*Malibu Colony

*Malibu Knolls area

*Big Rock area

*Niedo

*Monte Nido area

*Rambla Pacifica

*Las Flores Canyon Road

*Carbon Canyon Road

*Tuna Canyon Road

*Malibu Road

*Sweetwater Canyon Road

*Carbon Mesa Road

*Puerco Canyon Road

*Powder Horn Ranch Road

*Monte Vista Drive

*Southwest portion of Topanga Canyon Boulevard

*Authorities also called for a voluntary evacuation of Corral Canyon Road and Sunset Mesa.

Those fleeing the fire were directed to two Red Cross shelters:

*Agoura High School, 28545 W. Driver Ave.; Agoura Hills

* Palisades Charter High School, 15777 Bowdoin St., Pacific Palisades

Road closures: Northbound Pacific Coast Highway at Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Southbound PCH at Kanan Dume Road. Southbound Las Virgenes Road at Mulholland Drive. Southbound Kanan Dume Road at Cornell. Las Virgenes Road at Piuma Road. Malibu Canyon Road between PCH and Piuma Road. Carbon Canyon Road at PCH. Big Rock Drive at PCH. Tuna Canyon Road at Saddle Peak Road. Topanga Canyon Boulevard at Mulholland Drive. Malibu Canyon Road at Mulholland Drive. Las Flores Canyon Road at Rambla Pacifica Road. Malibu Canyon Road at Civic Center Way. Only residents and emergency vehicles permitted on PCH between Kanan Dume Road and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

School closures:

*Topanga Elementary School will be closed today, as will Calmont School in Topanga Canyon.

*Four schools in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will be closed:

*Malibu High School

*Cabrillo Elementary

*Webster Elementary

*Point Dume Elementary

For more information, residents can go to Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive; call the Malibu city hotline at (310) 456-9982; visit www.ci.malibu.ca.us; or send an e-mail to malibucityhall@yahoo.com

Update 2:04 PM: Just spoke with my neighbor; he has not yet been told to mandatory evacuate. Called T-CEP: Eastern front of fire has crossed Piuma and is heading towards Schueren Road. Evacuation from Zones 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 is still voluntary. (T-CEP Zone Map) I’m in Zone 6. Fire is moving in NE direction. From T-CEP Status Page:

Los Angeles County Fire: AS OF 1:14PM MONDAY OCT 22
UPDATE:
Mandatory evacuation:
Piuma (entire road)
Schueren (entire road)
Voluntary evacuation for Zone 2,5,6,7,9 and Sunset Mesa.

Update 3:21 PM: City of Malibu Evacuation Info: Topanga south of Stunt Road is now mandatory evacuation. Old Topanga Canyon is now voluntary evac.

Per information from the Fire Department:

Mandatory evacuations:ﾠ Malibu Knolls, Malibu Colony, SweetwaterﾠCanyon, Malibu Road, ﾠCarbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, Puerco Canyon, Rambla Pacifico, Monte Nido, Big Rock and Topanga Canyon south of Saddle Peak and Tuna Canyon, Schueren Road, Piuma Road. The evacuation route from Piuma and Schueren is Stunt Road to Mulholland to Topanga north.

Voluntary evacuations:ﾠ Corral Canyon, Sunset Mesa, Old Topanaga Canyon, Hillside Drive and areas south.

Red Cross Evacuation Centers have been set up at Agoura High School and Palisades High School.ﾠ An evacuation center is also set up at Malibu High School.

Update 3:34 PM: Here’s HereInMalibu‘s 3:12 PM update:

Up at the barn now, where the temp is in the 90s, but still, utterly still. Planes and helicopters dip in and out of the canyons, where a trace of smoke hangs in the sky.

Kanan Road is open, and people with local ID allowed in and out.

No gas stations open in Malibu, so conserve what you’ve got.

Update 3:46 PM: LA County Fire just upped fire size to 2700+ acres.

Update 4:20 PM: HereInMalibu says things are getting hotter — title of this photo is “wind shifts, flames appear.”

Update 4:44 PM: More news from Pepperdine:

Malibu Canyon Fire Update

Pepperdine officials have announced that it will not hold classes on the Malibu campus on Tuesday, October 23. Events scheduled for Tuesday on the Malibu campus have also been cancelled as the University continues to work closely with local, county, and state fire officials in response to the Malibu Canyon fire. Only critical SUPPORT personnel should report for work.

All Pepperdine campuses outside Malibu remain open for classes.

All roads leading to the Malibu campus are closed at this time. Information about current road closures is available on the road condition hotline at (310) 506-ROAD (7623).

At the present time, students, faculty, and staff on the Malibu campus remain safe and it is recommended that they not leave campus.

Update 4:51 PM: Di Sanders has some scary shots of the fire. I think it’s time for her to get away from wherever she’s standing:

Update 5:04 PM: This is a NASA satellite photo of the fires. The first taken at 11:35 AM; the second at 2:50 PM. Red outline shows the size of the fires at each time. Smoke plumes speak for themselves. Click the photo to go to NASA’s page on the fires.

Update 5:11 PM: Google map (not mine) showing all fires in Socal.

Update 5:21 PM: Some updates to road closures (info from T-CEP) on my Google Map.

Update 5:34 PM: News from CA OES:

Per OES staff at the Incident Command Post, the fire continues to burn and is currently at 2000 acres. There are 500 fire fighters assigned as the winds remain unpredictable.

News of note there is that there used to be almost 1500 firefighters; they’re clearly drawing down the force to take care of the other wildfires in the area. Other new news is that the burn area is up to 2000 acres.

Update 6:04 PM: More from HereInMalibu:

After a welcome afternoon lull, a sunset bout of wind. Fitful and fretful, not as sustained and scary as earlier today.

Here’s the view of Malibu’s most active fire, where a plane and three helicopters are making a final assault.

Update 6:19 PM: City of Malibu reports 2400 acres as of 5:30 PM. Also, their Fire Fact Sheet reports additional structures damaged and destroyed:

This information was provided by the Fire Department:

Time of Alarm: 4:55 a.m. Sunday, October 21, 2007

Acres burned: 2400 acres

Current condition: 10% contained

Expected containment time: Unknown

Firefighters assigned: 1446+

Structures burned: 6 single family dwellings, 1 church, 1 commercial trailer, two outbuildings

Structures damaged: 13 single family dwellings, 6 commercial businesses, 3 outbuildings, 2 classrooms

Evacuation status: 500 homes / approximately 1500 people

Update 6:23 PM: Sigh. LA County Fire now reports 2700+ acres.

Update 6:27 PM: I’m leaving work. I’ll be heading to my parents’ home to pick up my car, and will then check conditions and evaluate whether or not I can head up Topanga to clear some more stuff out of my house. (I’ve got all the REALLY important stuff — but there is some art on the walls, prints of my photos, etc. that I’d love to save. Still feel that my house won’t be in the path of the fire, but I’m much less confident than I used to be.

Update 10:54 PM: Headed up to Topanga. Had to show ID and phone bill to CHP to get past checkpoint at Topanga and Mulholland. (My ID doesn’t show my Topanga address.) Got a small load of stuff — paintings, framed photos, a few pieces of sculpture, and a bunch of clothes. Now back at the ‘rents and going to sleep. More updates tomorrow, again interspersed with work. (Hopefully with much more work.)

Update 8:44 AM Oct 23: Further updates will be posted here: http://blog.sudosu.net/2007/malibu-fire-day-3-oct-23/

I just got the call for voluntary evacuation, and I am heeding the call.

I have time (can’t see flames; they haven’t crested any hills around me) so I’m packing up essentials and heading to my parent’s house. With cats, which should go over wonderfully with the parents.

I’m turning off the computers now, and taking some of them with me. I may be blogging about this later tonight; I may not. If you have my phone number, feel free to call; especially if you’re worried. If you don’t have my phone number, feel free to direct-twitter me (http://twitter.com/schof) and it will be texted to my phone.

I strongly suspect that the flames will not reach my part of Topanga. Still, I’ve said all along that if I got the call for voluntary evacuation, I would go. I’m going.

Update 9:42 PM: Safely set up at my parents’ house. Several SEVERELY pissed-off cats hiding under my old single bed. All the essentials loaded in my car, and the house fire-proofed as much as possible. (Not very.)

I canceled hiking this morning; they are advising Topanga residents to listen to radio and television throughout the day in case the fire department issues evacuation orders. I’m putting valuable papers in my car and getting ready to pack up the cats and computers. I was heading south on PCH, saw dozens of fire trucks with sirens on heading North on PCH towards Malibu.

At that time (9 AM), PCH was open at least North past Topanga, and Topanga Canyon was completely open.

I’ll be posting updates as more information comes in on http://twitter.com/schof and here.

Update 10:39 AM: Fire is in the area around Pepperdine. I’m about 12.5 miles away from that by road; less as the bird (or fire) flies.

Update 10:45 AM: Malibu Castle completely engulfed in flame. Photos from fire on HereInMalibu’s Flickr page.

Update 10:48 AM: Fire has crossed PCH; some homes along beach engulfed by fires sparked by embers; firefighters fighting to keep neighboring houses intact.

Update 10:49 AM: Update from HereInMalibu:

Our Lady of Malibu’s school and Webster Elementary school now both in danger.

Three homes in flames on Malibu Road.

Fire crews at the Ralphs’ shopping center, where palm trees are in flames.

Update 10:52 AM: Some brush on fire on Pepperdine campus; no structures involved on campus yet; students and staff evacuated to Cafeteria and Gym; not yet evacuated off-site. Malibu Presbyterian Church fully-engulfed. CVS Pharmacy on PCH on fire, but not engulfed. On news saw firefighters on roof.

Update 10:55 AM: From HereInMalibu

Update 10:57 AM: Inspector Ron Haralson from LA County Fire (interviewed on Channel 2) says 700 acres involved in fire; was 500 acres around 8:30 AM. Pepperdine students and Malibu residents evacuated to centers at Zuma Beach; Red Cross on site to provide assistance. No injuries reported. Three businesses; multiple residences destroyed.

We’re listening to the scanner here in Paradise Cove. Now two fronts to the fire: east side of Malibu Canyon has burned through to PCH. West front still in the hills and now headed for the sea.

Fire in Serra Retreat. Spot fires in Civic Center.

Winds 50 mph. Gusts to 108 mph.

Copters sucking water from ponds at Pepperdine, which has been evaucated.

Update 11:01 AM: From Channel 2: 200 homes evacuated; five destroyed. Additional evacuation center at Agoura Hills High School.

Update 11:05 AM: From CBS2′s Fire Fact Sheet:

ROAD CLOSURES
• Northbound Pacific Coast Highway at Topanga Canyon Road
• Southbound Pacific Coast Highway at Kanan-Dume Road
• Northbound Topanga Canyon Road at Pacific Coast Highway
• Northbound Kanan-Dume Road at Pacific Coast Highway
• Southbound Topanga Kanan-Dume at Mulholland
• Southbound Las Virgenes at Mulholland

EVACUATIONS
• Residents in Puerco Canyon

EVACUATION CENTER
An evacuation center is located near Pacific Coast Highway and Trancas.

Update 11:19 AM: From LA County Fire Dept:

Malibu Wildfire is at 0% containment now at 700+ acres. Several homes have been destroyed. Currently Evacuation Center is at Zuma Beach area, 200 homes have been evacuated.

Update 11:25 AM: Castaic fire getting larger; resources being diverted from Malibu to Castaic. At least three wildfires currently in LA County.

Update 11:29 AM: HereInMalibu still on-site; this is how close she is to the fire.

Fire now 750 acres.

No one – not even residents – now allowed through to Malibu.

Update 11:33 AM: From Pepperdine Website:

There is a fire in Malibu Canyon, near Pepperdine’s Malibu campus. At this time, as a precaution, all students have been relocated in Firestone Fieldhouse and faculty and staff residents have been relocated to Tyler Campus Center. Pepperdine has implemented its shelter in place plan. No campus evacuations are planned at this time.

All campus events have been canceled for today

Road Closures: Pacific Coast Hwy is closed between Topanga Canyon and Kanan-Dume Road. Malibu Canyon Road is closed at Mulholland Hwy.

Update 11:40 AM: According to LA County Fire Department, fire now at 1000 acres, still 0% contained.

Update 11:55 AM: According to HereInMalibu, fire now at 1,200 acres. LA County Fire still says 1000.

Update 12:33 PM: Press Conference with Chief Micah Freeman of LA County Fire Dept. One thousand acres burned with zero containment. Aircraft are working the East flank of the fire because wind is driving the fire in SE direction parallel to PCH. No injuries to citizens or firefighters. Two commercial structures are a total loss; three residences are a total loss; 9 additional residences with moderate to minor damage. Four businesses at Colony Creek Shopping Center sustained damage. Fire is currently moving East towards Carbon Canyon area. Fire will last for days; thousands of homes will be threatened over course of fire. Voluntary evacuations: Coral Canyon, Carbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, and Rambla Pacifica. Mandatory evacuations: Montenido, Malibu Colony, Puerco Canyon, Sweetwater Canyon. PCH is closed between Kanan Dune Road and Topanga Canyon; Topanga Canyon at PCH and Topanga Canyon at the valley side are closed to everyone but residents.

Update 12:58 PM: I created a Google Map of Mandatory and Voluntary evacuations based on the press conference above.

Update 1:19 PM: Photos from earlier in the day from HereInMalibu:

Update 1:27 PM: From emergency.pepperdine.edu:

The Malibu area is experiencing a significant brush fire under windy conditions. At this time, no pepperdine structures have been lost although the brush fire continues to burn around portions of campus. The L.A. County Fire Department is on hand with two strike teams and continues to monitor the situation carefully. Steps have been taken to shelter and place all faculty, staff, and students in the Tyler Campus Center, Firestone Fieldhouse, and Payson Library. Conditions can change rapidly, so all faculty, staff, and students are urged to stay in the three assigned locations and stay off campus roads.

All scheduled events on the Malibu campus for Sunday, October 21 have been canceled.

Malibu Canyon is closed from Mulholland to PCH and PCH is closed between Topanga and Kanan.

Update 1:47 PM: There’s a site just created for Malibu Fire coverage: http://www.malibufires.org/ (Via HereInMalibu.)

Update 1:50 PM: MalibuFire.org’s map of the fire:

I’ve also been updating my Google Map of fire progress and evacuations and road closures.

Update 1:54 PM: LA County Fire updated their status page:

Malibu Wildfire is at 0% containment now at 1000+ acres. Several homes have been destroyed. Currently Evacuation Center is at Zuma Beach area, Firestone Field House and Agoura High School.

Mandatory Evacuations:

• Montenedo
• Malibu Rd
• Malibu Colony
• Pepperdine
• Malibu Crest
• Serra Retreet
• Big Rock

Information on Animal Evacuations are:
Large Animals (818) 991-0071 Desoto/Victory
Small Cats/Dogs evacuation location is
Agoura Shelter

Update 2:00 PM: If LA County Fire Dept. info is correct, Big Rock Road is being mandatory evacuated. That leapfrogged some voluntary evacuation notices, and appears to signal a significant move or threatened move of the fire to the East.

Update 2:53 PM: More news from HereInMalibu‘s scanner:

Fire moving in both directions – just dropped to the hill above the Malibu Pier and is running uphill toward Saddle Peak.

800 firefighter now in Malibu. 1,000 more on the way. Firefighters’ shift change has begun, with fresh companies relieving those who have been at work since before dawn.

Update 2:55 PM: LA County Fire says we’re now at 1200+ acres; still zero containment.

Update 2:58 PM: Pepperdine says:

Students, faculty, and staff members who were relocated to the Tyler Campus Center, Payson Library, and Firestone Fieldhouse were allowed to return to their dorms and on-campus residences around 2 p.m. All are requested not to leave campus.

The Health and Counseling Centers have relocated to the Rho parking lot and will remain open until 9 p.m. for all members of the Pepperdine community in need of their services. Flashlights will distributed throughout the Pepperdine community due to cyclical power outages.

All classes on the Malibu campus have been cancelled tomorrow, Oct. 22. Only critical support personnel should report to campus tomorrow. The Pepperdine graduate campuses outside of Malibu will be open tomorrow and classes will be held. Only critical communication systems, such as email, Internet connectivity, and telephone services, will likely be available.

This matches what I’ve been hearing about the fires around Malibu Canyon being largely out, and the main thrust of the fire now being Eastward along PCH.

Update 3:05 PM: MalibuFires.org just cut-and-pasted my entire coverage onto their front page. It’s all cool — this is about getting the information out there, not monetizing clicks.

Update 3:17 PM: Cable went out, so no more TV. I’ll try to stream something to get more reports. Verizon FIOS (obviously) still working.

Update 3:32 PM: Watching Channel 4 on streaming video now. I continue to update the Google Maps with new fire locations. Burning heavily on hills above PCH just West of Carbon Mesa road.

Update 3:35 PM: New photo from HereInMalibu:

Update 3:40 PM: Looks like the fire around Malibu Canyon is starting to burn again. So sez Channel 4.

Update 3:45 PM: MrPuffy has a bunch of photos from Saddle Peak Road looking down at the Malibu Fire. Channel 4 says 2000 acres burned; five residential structures destroyed; five commercial structures destroyed, and five residential structures damaged. Fire now appears to be moving West, says fire fighter interviewed.

Update 3:43 PM: News from HereInMalibu:

It’s been quiet for half an hour now. Absolutely no wind, but we know that can’t last. The fire burns south and east of us, zero percent contained, a hundred percent unpredictable.

Residents in the Cove are restless. We’re caught between two traffic stops – Malibu Canyon and Kanan Road. Can’t go south at all. North is iffy – you might get out, but chances of being allowed back in are slim. So we’re stuck, waiting to see what the wind will do, where the fire will go. We walk to the bluff to watch smoke waft from the cleft in the hills and wonder what piece of our sweet home town we’re losing now.

Update 3:53 PM: Updated Google Map; Voluntary Evacs changed to Mandatory. Got permission from MrPuffy to publish some shots:

UPDATE 4:01 PM: More from HereInMalibu:

And just like that, the fire heads west.

The wind kicked up again a few minutes ago, hot and strong and steady. Smoke pours out of Latigo Canyon, where planes and ‘copters swarm. Almost 4 p.m.. We’re heading into autumn dusk, an unsettling time to lose the light. Time to collect the dogs, pack the Plymouth and think about the best place to spend the night.

Update 4:14 PM: I see smoke North of me up Topanga Canyon. Not sure how that’s possible unless wind direction has shifted. Just had a water-dropping helicopter fly over my house. Getting close to hauling ass.

Update 4:21: I think the smoke I see is from the Chatsworth fire, as weather.com shows the wind coming out of the NE — which means it’s NOT blowing the fire towards me.

Update 4:40 PM: Press Conference with Zev Yaroslavsky: Mandatory evacuation of lower part of Topanga Canyon, Lower Tuna Canyon area. People in Topanga Canyon are asked to take large animals to Pierce College immediately as a precaution. Sherrif Lee Baca: Evacuated Pepperdine, central Malibu, Rambla Pacifico, Las Flores, Carbon Canyon, Big Rock have all been evacuated. Tuna Canyon is being evacuated. Ocean side (near beach) of Topanga Canyon is being evacuated.

LA County Fire Chief: Fire has consumed more than 1200 acres; they have made considerable progress. Fire is being held in Carbon Mesa/Carbon Canyon area by air drops. No air drops will made after dark. Fire still not contained. Winds will double after dark. Approximately 700 firefighters are on site; 350 additional coming in overnight. 1500 people have been evacuated. Another couple of days at least until fire is contained. Malibu Canyon road between PCH and Piuma is closed until further notice. PCH is closed between Kanaan Dune and Topanga. 5 single-family dwellings and two commercial buildings destroyed. 9 single-family dwellings damaged; 5 businesses damaged. Topanga Elementary closed tomorrow; all schools in Malibu closed tomorrow.

Update: 5:02 PM: From LA County Fire Site: School Closures Tomorrow:

Malibu HS, Malibu Middle School, Point Dune Elementary, Webster Elementary, Cabrillo Elementary

Update: 5:05 PM: Deneill took some great photos of the fire:

Update 5:08 PM: Feeling uneasy, but not yet evacuating. Fire seems to be holding firm at Carbon Canyon / Carbon Mesa. This is good, except that winds are expected to pick up at night, and the helicopters can’t drop water at night. They are performing mandatory evacuations in “Lower/Beach Side Topanga Canyon,” but I don’t really know how far that extends. I’m going to start loading up the car just in case, and getting the cat cages ready.

Update 5:43 PM: Chabad of Malibu evacuates their Torah:

Update 6:43 PM: Got the automated call asking me to evacuate. People South of Topanga Center should go south on Topanga to PCH, and then East on PCH to Pallisades High School. People North of Topanga Center (That’s me!) should head North on Topanga to the Valley, and…I didn’t really pay attention. I’m heading, cats-in-hand, to my parents house. Computer being shut down. Will update further tonight if possible.

NOTE: This is NOT a rush, panicked evacuation. We can’t see flames, and it’s probably just a precaution. Still, I said all along that when I got the voluntary evacuation notice, I would go. I’m going.

Update 10:07 AM, October 22: All additional news will be posted here, on an article for today’s date: http://blog.sudosu.net/2007/malibu-fire-day-2-oct-22/