Fires, high winds cause shaky few days
Locals mostly out of harm's way
By Joann Groff  joann@theacorn.com

EFFECTS OF NATURE--Above, John DeLuca of Oak Park submitted a photo of the tree that fell onto his car during the gusty winds of Oct. 20 and 21. The incident occurred on Conifer Street. Chris Gilbert, a junior at Agoura High School, took the photo at right showing a Super Scooper aircraft skimming Lake Sherwood during the fires last weekend. The plane, which is designed to function at low speeds for water pickups, has a 1,620-gallon capacity. Firefighters used the lake to resupply.

Unlike in recent years, the Malibu fires didn't cross the canyons into the city of Calabasas. Still, the local residents had to keep their guard up as the high winds and smoke wreaked havoc on homes, schools and businesses.

The Malibu fires, which burned more than 4,200 acres and destroyed 22 structures, started early Sunday morning as the likely result of downed power lines, officials said. Hurricane-force winds pushed the flames from the ocean to well inland.

As of Wednesday, the fire was limited to hot spots near Piuma Road and Saddlepeak Road and was approximately 85 percent contained. The blaze is expected to under control by tomorrow, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Several local Several local roads were closed throughout the week, including Las Virgenes Road from Piuma Road all the way to the beach. Many of the closures hadn't been lifted as of Wednesday morning, including Piuma Road at Schueren Road, Saddle Peak east of Schueren Road, and Tuna Canyon between Pacific Coast Highway and Saddle Peak.

For the most up-to-date road closure information, visit the public works website at dpw.lacounty.gov/rmd/ roadclosure.

Earlier in the week residents of Monte Nido were evacuated, as were those living on Old Topanga Canyon Road. By Tuesday, however, the residents of Las Flores Canyon, Sweetwater Canyon, Carbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, Rambla Pacifico, and those living at the top of Piuma and Schueren roads were allowed back into their homes.

Worries about the nearly 100 mph winds and threat of fire caused Calabasas city and fire department officials to shut down the second day of the Pumpkin Festival at Juan De Anza Park. This year's festival was to be two days long for the first time, but by 6 a.m. Sunday, after seeing the devastation wrought by the overnight winds, the city pulled the plug.

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers PICK UP THE PIECES--A worker gathers the remains of a blown down tent at the Pumpkin Festival.

Pumpkin Festival event chair Doug Ridley told The Acorn  he couldn't risk gathering 10,000 people in an area that might have to be evacuated, and that shutting down the operation was the smart, safe thing to do.

Viewpoint and Calmont schools were closed Monday, but all Las Virgenes schools remained open. Agoura High School served as a shelter at the beginning of the week.

Mollie Hogan, director of the Nature of Wildworks animal rescue organization, said she removed the animals from her Topanga location, including several mountain lions, and placed them in a garage of a private home in Woodland Hills until the high winds and threat of fire subsided.

The Agoura Animal Shelter and Pierce College were also available for sheltering big and small animals.

On a separate front, aproximately 90 percent of Charter Communications customers in Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills and surrounding areas--more than 10,000 customers--experienced disruptions in their cable, Internet and telephone services. More than 4,000 feet of fiberoptic lines were burned at Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu Sunday, but crews arrived early Tuesday to begin restoration of the destroyed communications lines, and representatives from Charter said most customers had their services back by Tuesday evening.

Because of the air quality, the Los Angeles County Department of Health reminded residents to stay indoors with air conditioners running. Given the conditions, the advice was easy to follow.