The famous coastal city of Malibu near Los Angeles on Sunday began to tally the damages from its worst fire in 15 years.
The fire, which started on Saturday, scorched 4,720 acres of land and caused damages that might near 100 million dollars, authorities said.
Fifty homes were destroyed Saturday by the fast-moving wildfire, pushed by Santa Ana winds.
As the fire died down, evacuations orders were lifted last night for most of Malibu, allowing most of the 20,000 or so coastal residents to stay put. But some areas north of Pacific Coast Highway still remain closed to residents.
Firefighters said critical fire dangers caused by dry, warm winds would diminish during the day. But the National Weather Service extended Red Flag warnings through 6 p.m.
Firefighters working overnight were replaced this morning, and those still toiling on hot spots, structure protection and fire lines were told to expect lessening winds and slightly cooler, moister air.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reactivated the state of emergency he declared last month so no time was wasted in providing any needed resources to fight these fires or help those Californians who have been impacted.
At least 15 water-dropping helicopters, as well as two SuperScooper airplanes, were assigned to the blaze on Saturday while 1,700 firefighters were on the ground trying to contain the blaze. Seven firefighters suffered minor injuries.
Very little smoke was visible after sunrise on Sunday, and open flames had not been seen anywhere overnight, crews said.
Despite those cheery observations, however, the 6 a.m. assessment was that the fire was 40 percent contained, with full containment expected Tuesday.
Experts warned that two years of drought had left coastal sage, sumac and sycamore shrubs so dry that they stand an 80 percent chance of bursting into flame should an ember land on them.
Southern California electricity facility Edison reported that by sunrise, they had fully repaired several lines that had burned and collapsed onto canyon access roads on Saturday. All but 55 customers in Malibu have electric service on Sunday.
Investigators had determined that the fire, which broke out along a dirt road off a paved highway, was caused by humans but had not determined whether it was started intentionally, said Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Rick Dominguez.
Malibu, with homes tucked into deep and narrow canyons along 43 kilometers of coast at the southern foot of the Santa Monica Mountains, is prone to Santa Ana-driven wildfires. Among them was a 1993 blaze that destroyed 388 structures, including 268 homes, and killed three people.
Saturday's blaze is reminiscent of the inferno that roared out of Malibu Canyon on Oct. 21 and hop-scotched its way to the beach, destroying a socialite's castle, the Malibu Presbyterian Church, three beachfront homes and a handful of businesses in the Malibu Colony shopping center.
Source: Xinhua
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