Firefighters Battling Fast-Moving Brush Fires In Malibu And Calabasas

Two more brush fires have started in Southern California, adding to the current tally. Thursday afternoon saw the ignition of a fire in Calabasa and another in Malibu.

A representative of the Los Angeles County Fire Department told LAist that the fire in Calabasas was reported at 2:54 p.m. Crews were dispatched and arrived at the scene at 3:06 p.m.—225 personnel are on scene. The brush fire is located at Mulholland Highway and Malibu Canyon Road. At last update, the blaze was considered a third alarm fire and has spread to 10-15 acres. The cause remains under investigation. No injuries or structural damage have been reported.

The LACFD representative added that the Malibu fire was first reported at 3:09 p.m. Crews arrived to the scene at 3:20 p.m. The fire is located at South Topanga Canyon Road and West Pacific Coast Highway. A representative at the City of Malibu told LAist that Topanga Canyon Road is closed in both directions. At last update, the blaze is two acres in size, with crews "battling medium and heavy brush uphill." The two alarm fire is being responded to by 195 personnel on scene. No injuries or structural damage have been reported.

In addition to these two fires, the Los Angeles Times reports that the Hamline Fire in Burbank continues to burn, though it's now about 90% contained, and that the Placerita Fire in Santa Clarita is at 95% containment. In South Orange County, the Christianitos Fire has grown to 700 acres and is 10% contained.

[UPDATE: 5:08 p.m.] Pacific Coast Highway is now closed in both directions at Topanga Canyon.