Fires in Malibu destroy homes

Posted by Amber Nasrulla Jan 9, 2007

Star-studded Malibu has been taking on the chin the last few days. The hot Santa Ana winds have been whooshing through L.A. County and Orange County (where I live) making the weather dry and hot, perfect for wildfires.

So far, four ocean-side mansions, including one owned by Suzanne Somers, have been destroyed by wildfires. On the telly it looked like Somers’ place burnt to the sand. She says she’ll rebuild.

“My nature is to look at the glass half-full,” Somers, 60, told the Associated Press. “I truly believe we will learn something great from this experience."

Other footage taken by TV news helicopters showed large areas filled with flames blowing down seaside slopes toward shoreline homes, with lines of flashing lights from emergency vehicles. Winds appeared to be blowing the fire toward the ocean rather than up into steep, brushy coastal canyons.

The fire burned near the Malibu Colony, one of the area’s original beachfront neighborhoods, dating to the 1930s. The densely built stretch of luxury homes has been a favorite of celebrities over the years.

Mel Gibson, Pierce Brosnan, Pamela Anderson, Barbra Streisand, Ted Danson, David Geffen and Courteney Cox-Arquette are among the uber-famous residents of Malibu.