Malibu Fire

[MojaveSidecar]

Big fire raging in Malibu. 3 beach houses destroyed so far.

I can't believe it... my wife and I just rode by that location on the motorcycle Saturday. Arson is suspected

[KWBoy]

Last reports were 10 houses burned and the fire is about 10 acres

[spellbinder]

8 homes destroyed, and 5 damaged...   

on a brighter note, no injuries

  to all the firefighters !!
they did a HECK of a job stopping this thing!

[KWBoy]

These news people can't get it straight! Now they are saying

* 4 homes lost
* 5 damaged
* 20 acres burned

[Wildman]

Not necessarily......there is something called the Fog of War where information is difficult to pin down for a period of time during and right after a battle.  A fast moving wild fire is no different.  Until you bring in a team to physically survey the damaged and destroyed homes, all kinds of anecdotal information gets out as reporters talk with homeowners, bystanders and gawkers who all put their two cents in.   Some of the newer reporters will go with just about any number.  The seasoned vets like Mary Parks and Bob Banfield always wait to get official numbers.  That's why we won't release information until we have confirmed it and have a great probability of it's accuracy.

[Nolena]

And there's a difference between number of buildings and number of homes.
Someone could see 8 buildings burned and assume they were all homes, whereas some of the buildings could have been detached garages or any other kind of additional buildings on the same property as the homes.

[CA5th]

And it looks like there was a distinct lack of defensible space around these homes.  They may be by the ocean but there is brush right up to some of those homes.  It's a tribute to the firefighters that more structures were not lost.

PS  County Fire now issues two types of reports on larger incidents in addition.  There is the traditional Situation Summary that contains verified facts.  This is usually issued one or two times a day.  A newer product is the Flash Report that contains information believed to be accurate but has not been absolutely verified.  These are issued shortly after an incident starts and as needed.

[spellbinder]

tonight on channel 9 news they showed the fire chief in malibu, he was telling of firefighters crawling on their bellies under the supports of some of the homes not burned, puting out hot spots...

amazing!!   these guys are real hero's!!

[Wildman]

A contributing factor certainly could have been brush clearance but more likely was the typical beach road set backs between houses of only ten feet or so.  When the first house took off, the next was exposed to radiant and direct flame impingement and rolled on down the line with the wind.

[Wildman]

And it looks like there was a distinct lack of defensible space around these homes.  They may be by the ocean but there is brush right up to some of those homes.  It's a tribute to the firefighters that more structures were not lost.

After looking at the picture of the homes on today's LA Times, I think CA5th called it pretty good.  Yes, the homes are ten feet apart but the brush comes right down to their back doors.  With the wind blowing offshore, it drove the flames right into them.  Here is a link to the photo: 

http://www.latimes.com/includes/sectionfronts/A1.pdf

[Wrightwood]

I wonder who owns the hillside property with the vegetation that wasn't cleared and how the new 100' clearance law applies?

[KWBoy]

It isn't really that expensive to clear your property. $400 for a 2 day backhoe rental and our property was all cleared. And those people don't have very big properties.

[Wrightwood]

The beach home lots don't appear to be the problem.
It was the open land across the street and on the hillside that caused the problem. The hillside could not be cleared by a piece of equipment like a backhoe due to erosion issues.

[KWBoy]

I know this way off topic but won't the hill top homes that are being built down by the 138 and hwy 2 have erosion issues?

[DPW_HazardousTree]

Deffensible space can be a scary thought for some one with a large property.  I live on a small property that requires some raking and pulling a few weeds.  For folks with larger property's 2 acres or more, it can be tuff just thinking about it.  What needs to be removed, what can stay, the prospect of cost in doing the work.  If your doing it alone how do you get rid of the mess.  Hill sides, erosion and other issues only compound the situation.  This is were Fire Safe Councils play a huge rule.  Educating on deffensible space, what thinning and removal would make a property fire safe.  Ways to get the work done, and dispose of it.  I highly recomend anyone with questions on this subject speak with your local Fire Safe Council.  It can go a long way in HELPING prevent disasters like this.

[kk_gizmo]

I know this way off topic but won't the hill top homes that are being built down by the 138 and hwy 2 have erosion issues?

Yep, the winter after one of the first ones was built, you could see deep erosion crevasses down the bare hillsides.

For new tract homes up against high fire danger areas, they require 'zones' that allow for plants to remain as long as they are 'fire resistant' an area that has to be kept watered and thinned and a non-flammable zone. It seems to be the compromise between sliding hillsides & burning hillsides.

I'd bet the hillsides across from the homes is not privately owned but being left as a 'natural area'. Bet that thing slides like mad in the first good rain.