Residents flee wildfire in Malibu hills

[Saguaro]

MALIBU, Calif. - Residents were ordered to evacuate their homes early Saturday ahead of a wildfire that scorched about 100 acres in the hills above Malibu as the dry Santa Ana wind returned to Southern California.

The blaze began shortly before 3:30 a.m. PST near Malibu Lake on state park land, said Los Angeles County fire Capt. Mike Brown. Some residents who live in the canyons above Malibu were ordered to leave, Brown said, but it wasn't immediately clear how many.

No injuries were reported. About 160 firefighters were on scene and the cause of the fire was being investigated.

Hundreds of firefighters were placed on watch this weekend as Santa Ana wind returned to Southern California. Gusts up to 60 mph were reported in some mountain passes overnight.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071124/ap_on_re_us/california_wildfires;_ylt=Aqy_5DyNvosm6l8dRMZvNu.s 0NUE

[Oceanbreeze]

It's one of the prices they pay to live in that area, similar to that of hurricane prone areas.

"Q. So why is the fire danger larger in the fall?

A. Southern California has a Mediterranean climate, which means precipitation falls during the winter and the hot summer season is also dry. By the time the Great Basin starts cooling in September and October, Southern California has already experienced an extended period of hot, dry weather. In October, the Great Basin is cooler than the LA area but not yet very cold -- so the Santa Ana winds can start at a higher temperature and thus reach sea level very hot and extremely dry after compression warming. That heat, in combination with prolonged summer drought, produces an especially high fire hazard. As the winter takes hold in Nevada, however, decreasing temperatures there mean the winds won't be as hot and dry once they descend to sea level. In most years, the rains have already started in Los Angeles by that time, replenishing plant moisture. The fire threat never completely vanishes - especially during dry winters -- but it usually decreases as the winter wears on."

http://www.atmos.ucla.edu/~fovell/ASother/mm5/SantaAna/santa_ana_faq.html
http://www.atmos.ucla.edu/~fovell/ASother/mm5/SantaAna/winds.html

[Trueblue]

Every place has its dangers. Earthquakes seem like the most frightening to me, because there is no warning, at least as of yet.

Could they make some changes in how they build that would help? Like large culverts between forests and housing.

[Saguaro]

The problem with that is a lot of the fire is spread through the air