Mountain fire prevention improved

Under a plan recently approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, visitors to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and residents in the Corral Canyon area above Malibu will receive an extra measure of fire protection on days when the wind howls and red flag conditions are in effect.

In the early morning hours of Nov. 24, 2007, an illegal bonfire set by unauthorized visitors in the portion of Malibu Creek State Park directly above the Corral Canyon community sparked a devastating wildfire. The blaze destroyed or damaged 98 dwellings and 45 outbuildings in the unincorporated neighborhood and threatened more than 2,000 homes.

Corral Canyon's geography makes it vulnerable in hot, dry and windy conditions. During future red flag conditions in the Santa Monica Mountains, the county will prohibit all non-emergency traffic and on-street parking in most areas north of the residential homes along Corral Canyon Road. There will also be limited public access to the high fire danger areas of Malibu Creek State Park.

The new prohibitions will be enforced by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.