I got my landlord (he lives next door) and we went out to investigate. There was a big pool caused by debris against one side of the house, apparently that was seeping down next to the boulder and somehow into the house. When we cleared the debries and caused the pool to drain, the water stopped pouring through the THREE INCH HOLE in my wall. (Pictures to follow.)

Now, about that boulder. There’s a BIG rock, and apparently the hippies who built my house couldn’t move or blast it, so they just built the house around it. The boulder sticks into my house and is just plastered over. (There’s actually steps in it leading up to a little reading nook.) And as far as I can tell, the boulder is the only thing holding the house up. (I asked my landlord if the house was built on a slab foundation. His response? “Are you fucking kidding? It’s sticks on dirt. A couple of cinderblocks. And believe it or not, the place is legal. It’s old enough that it’s registered as a real residence!”)

He brought over a bunch of towels, and we swept up most of the mud on the bottom floor — thus far, my second floor has been blissfully immune to water problems. (Other than a few leaks, which just sprang up.)

Oh, one more thing. When I put my ear down near the boulder, I hear the sound of rushing water. And against the hillside wall of my house. Rushing water.

If I’ve struck some kind of underground stream, can I open a bottling plant? Want to drink Topanga Water?

I’ll be updating on this site as I get information. Probably not as frequent updates as last time. My Internet is out at home (unrelated to the fire) and I’m blogging this from Mimosa Cafe. Please text or call 310-430-1873 with tips and breaking news. E-mail is jschofield at gmail.com.

Note that I will be posting each update as individual posts, rather than updating an existing post. I think that will work better.

Update 9:26 AM: Malibu Times has the best summary so far:

As of 8:55 the most threatened is Latigo, West of Latigo and Kanan

Dume, Evacuation advised.

Winds are calming down slightly but high fire danger remains.

City Councilmember Ken Kearsley reports that an estimated 35 homes have been destroyed.

Los Angeles Fire Cap. Mike Brown reports that fire is moving west toward – Kanan Dume area – No reports of injury or cause or estimated containment.

Fire fighting resources are being brought in from throughout California.

Fire Report 8:45 a.m.

Pepperdine – Classes and events cancelled including basketball tournament. Campus residents have been moved into Tyler Center as a safety precaution. No flames near campus at this time. Concerned parents are referred to the Pepperdine website. www.pepperdine.edu

20 homes lost. 200 threatened. Malibu Bowl area most affected.

Evacuations – Trancas Canyon and Pt. Dume area – evacuation advised. Evacuation site: Agoura High School.

Malibu Emergency Radio: 1620 AM

Fire Report 8:25 a.m.

Fire threatens Kanan Dume area. Pt Dume Residents are advised to be prepared to evacuation.

Evacuation Center is at Agoura High,Thousand Oaks at Kanan

Fire moving west driven by high winds. Burnt area estimated at over 1500 acres.

20 Homes lost in Malibu Bowl Area, Sycamore Meadow area, Ingleside, Newel Road, El Nido,

10 Helicopters and two Super Scooper aircraft are in the area.

Road Closures: Coral Canyon, Malibu Canyon at PCH West bound. Kanan South bound from Mullholland.

Fire Report 8:00

Fire across from Latigo Canyon and PCH is under control.

Capt.Mike Brown, L A County Fire reports that his department is now considering this a major fire with 1500 acres afire. There are 500 fire fighters on the scene with air support of water dropping aircraft.

Wind blowing in 50 mile an hour gusts. Moving in S-SW direction toward Pt. Dume.. Homes have been damaged near Sycamore Canyon. Fire burning across from Geoffrey’s restaurant.

Simon Watkins, a ten year Malibu resident, was evacuated at 5:45 when he awoke to a wall of wall of flames within 200 feet from his home.

Bill and Lee Hardy of Seabreeze in the El Nido area have been burned out of their home after having survived 8 previous fires. Lee Hardy is a painter and she was unable to save her canvases.

Fire Report 7:40 AM

Evacuations: Puerco Canyon, Sycamore Canyon, Ramirez Canyon and Winding Way. Residents in surrounding areas are encouraged to be prepared to evacuate.

Fire at Coral Canyon and PCH at 76 Station and in back of Beau Rivage Restaurant.

Water dropping helicopters and airplanes are in the area.

Fire being drive by SW Winds.

Fire Report 7:30 AM

Pepperdine University is not in immediate danger although as of 6AM some Dresher Campus residents were asked to evacuate to the Tyler Campus Center.

Malibu Mayor Jeff Jennings reporting: Home on Via Escondido is on fire. Fire is both sides of fire. Evacuation center established at Agoura High School. The mayor asks that Malibu citizens look out for each other, especially in the threatened areas and assist with evacuation of families and their animals. He is optimistic that the state and county fire departments can knock down the fire today.

Wind is expected to decrease later this afternoon.

Fire 7:20 AM

John and Julie Pfeiffer of El Nido were evacuated along with their sons, Mike, 19, Jack 16. They report that the fire started in Malibu Bowl around 4AM Saturday morning.

Westbound PCH at Malibu Canyon Closed. Kanan Closed at Mullholland.

Water dropping helicopters are working the fire. Homes in Sycamore Canyon reported on fire.

Fire now at base of Coral Canyon and PCH. Fire burning in a westerly direction at this time.

One fire fighter has been reported injured.

Fire: 7:06

At 7AM over 400 acres are burning. Residents of Latigo and Coral Canyon being evacuated. Several homes reported afire. Fire has crossed PCH east of Malibu Road. At least 6 homes are full engulfed in flames at this time. Wind gusts up to 60 miles an hour in some areas.

Roads Closures – Coral Canyon, West PCH at Malibu Canyon. Kanan Road. .

From the City of Malibu Website -

A brush fire is burning in the Corral Canyon area of Malibu. Evacuations are in progress in the Malibu Bowl area, Corral Canyon, Newell Canyon (County), and Latigo Canyon. The Fire Department advises that the fire is moving in a south/southwest direction. Malibu Canyon and Kanan Roads are currently open; however, PCH is being limited to residents only at this time. The Malibu City Staff has activated its Emergency Operations Center in City Hall.

Malibu Fire 6:55 AM

Fire continues in Coral Canyon/Latigo Area Fire burning from Malibu Bowl- Upper Coral to PCH. Canyon. 30-40 homes are reported to be in immediate danger. Water dropping aircraft are in the area. 300 plus acres have been burnt as of 6:55.

Jason Ward resident of Ingleside Way says his house is burning. He and his wife Tiffany were able to escape the fire with their animals.

Malibu City Emergency Information line: 310 – 456-9982

Malibu Emergency Radio 1620 AM – WPTD AM

HI JOHN:

I SAW A BLOG WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION.

I AM HOPING YOU CAN TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE ROAD CLOSURES IN
THE MALIBU AREA AS WE ARE TRAVELING WITH MAPQUEST.

IS LAS VIRGINES CLOSED? WE ARE TRYING TO REACH A HOME IN THE MAHOU
RIVIERA AREA FROM A BURBANK HOTEL TAKING VENTURA FWY.

I APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE YOU MAY HAVE FOR ME.

I normally don’t answer messages in ALL CAPS, {grin} but I figured if one person is asking, probably more people are curious.

The LA County Department of Public Works shows no road closures from the fire. (Some lane closures due to storms, but all date from 2005 — and it’s still very possible to get around the lane closures.)

The City of Calabasas says, “Malibu Canyon is now OPEN but subject to intermittent closure for electrical repairs.” They don’t list any other roads as closed.

The City of Malibu says that, “The Fire Department reports that the access roads to Rambla Pacifico are currently open to residents only, with identification. There are no other reported road closures. Please avoid Civic Center Way between Cross Creek and Webb Way as this is a Fire staging area.”

(This is typical of the type of information I was working with during the fire. While there was often a general consensus between sources, they often differed on details.)

To answer the person’s specific question: Las Virgenes Rd. / Malibu Canyon Rd are intermittently closed. You could certainly get through, but you might have to wait. Kanan Dume Rd. is probably a better bet for you.

(It’s nice to be able to write good news here.)

Update 8:46 AM: CBS’s Fire Fact Sheet (Dated 9 PM Oct 22):

AS OF 9PM
• 3,800 acres burned
• More than 200 homes evacuated
• 1,500 residents evacuated
• 10 homes and 6 businesses damaged
• 1,400 fire personnel deployed
• No injuries reported
• 10 percent containment

ROAD CLOSURES
• PCH closed northbound and southbound between Topanga Canyon and Kanan-Dume Road
• Topanga Canyon closed north at PCH
• Kanan-Dume Rd. closed northbound and southbound between PCH and Mullholland
• Las Virgenes closed at Mulholland

EVACUATIONS
• Residents in Puerco Canyon
• Residents along the beach on Malibu Road
• Residents in Malibu Colony
• Residents in Montenito
• Residents in Sweet Water Canyon
• Voluntary evacuations in Coral Canyon

EVACUATION CENTERS
• Zuma Beach Parking Lot
• Malibu High School — 30215 Morning View Drive
• Pacific Palisades High School — 15777 Bowdoin Street, Pacific Palisades
• Agoura High School — 28545 Driver Avenue, Agoura Hills
• Time Warner Marriott in Woodland Hills is offering discounted rates to displaced residents. Call Tina Firestone at 818-884-6273.

PET AND ANIMAL CENTERS
• West Hills Pet Clinic — 23333 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills. Call 818-222-7387
• Pierce College is taking large animals — 6201 Winnetka Avenue, Woodland Hills.
• Agoura Shelter is taking small animals — 29525 Agoura Road. Agoura Hills. Call 818-991-0071
• EvacMyPet

SCHOOL CLOSURES
• Classes canceled at Pepperdine’s Malibu campus
• All Malibu public schools
• Topanga Elementary School in Malibu
• Viewpoint School in Calabasas
• Pinecrest Schools

CANCELLATIONS
• MTA Line 534, which runs along Pacific Coast Highway
• The Calabasas Pumpkin Festival at Juan Bautista de Anza Festival Park

News there seems to be the increased acreage count and the damaged structure count.

Update 9:01 AM: News from HereInMalibu

A different mood in town today, where the staging area at the Civic Center has grown and become more organized. Firefighters from many counties tend to their rigs and their gear. Breakfast is served, even as helicopters fly over, low and loud, on their way to Pepperdine’s water source.

The roadblock between western Malibu and town is gone. The Shell station is open and selling gas. Businesses remain closed, though some storefronts have lights on as owners return.

Here’s today’s sunrise, from Bluffs Park. Huge plume of smoke from southern fires drifts across the skyline.

Update 9:12 AM: LA County Fire reports 10% containment on 3,800 acres.

Update 9:18 AM: T-CEP says Topanga Road Closure has been lifted for residents only; still closed for everyone else.

Posted 12:36 am 10-23
After many reports of Residents being denied access this evening, LACFD has verified a joint order by Fire and Sheriff’s Dept. to not allow ANY residents into Topanga, via the valley or PCH. It is unknown when this order will be lifted. We will update as soon as we can gain clarification.

Please be aware that if residents leave they may not be allowed back into the canyon.

RESTRICTION LIFTED
Updated 10-23 8:00 am: The restriction on Residents entering Topanga via all access roads has been lifted. Topanga Cyn. blvd is closed to all but Residents With Proper ID. The reason for this restriction was the Fire & Sherriffs concern that the Mandatory Evacuation areas may have been entered since patrol cars had not been adequately posted at the entry points.

Update 9:25 AM: Pepperdine Status

October 23rd, 2007 at 7:00 AM

Malibu Canyon Fire Update

Pepperdine officials have announced that classes will not be held on the Malibu campus today, October 23. Events scheduled for today on the Malibu campus have also been cancelled as the University continues to work closely with local, county, and state fire officials in response to the Malibu Canyon fire. Only critical support personnel should report for work.

All Pepperdine campuses outside Malibu remain open for classes.

All roads leading to the Malibu campus are closed at this time. Information about current road closures is available on the road condition hotline at (310) 506-ROAD (7623).

At the present time, students, faculty, and staff on the Malibu campus remain safe and it is recommended that they not leave campus.

Conditions remain unchanged since 7 p.m. last night.

Update 9:28 AM: LA Times Google Map of SoCal Fires. Their info, from Oct 22 7:30 PM

Acres burned: 3,800
Destroyed: 6 homes, 2 commercial and business buildings, church.
Damaged: 5 businesses, 9 homes damaged.
Containment: 8%
People evacuated: 1,500

Point of origin: Malibu Canyon Road at Piuma Road
Burned toward Pacific and Pepperdine University, then moved southeast.
Direction burning: Southeast
Threatened: 600 homes, 200 commercial, 100 outbuildings.
Firefighters dispatched: 1,500 firefighters
Injuries to residents: none
Injuries to firefighters: none
Time of start: 4:50 a.m., 10-21
Possible cause: Downed power lines

Update 9:32 AM: T-CEP says 15% contained; full containment expected by Friday Oct. 26. (Info as of 8:20 AM Oct 23.)

Latest update Oct 23 8:20 am:
Fire has currently burned 4400 acres, and even with increase of area since last night, the containment level is now increased from 8% to 15%. LACFD reported the perimteter of the fire is essentially the same (see below). LACFD also expects full containment by Friday Oct. 26.

Update 9:35 AM: LA County Fire reports acreage at 4400+ and containment at 15%. Good news, and matches T-CEP info from earlier. Even better news is T-CEP statement above that “perimeter of the fire is essentially the same.”

Update 9:38 AM: Good news from HereInMalibu:

I just drove from Trancas to Cross Creek and back and the city’s getting back to normal. Tancas Market is open, as is the Starbucks there. Lots of espresso, pastries and war stories. No newspapers, but people are being pretty good about sharing.Trancas Chevron, the Point Dume gas station, the 76 station near Corral, and the Chevron next to Malibu Urgent Care still closed. Shell at Cross Creek still seems to be the only game in town.

Ralphs and CVS both open. Parking lot filling up with people shopping, staring, and taking pix like the one below.

Lots of tents going up at the command center at the Civic Center, presumably so firefighters can get some sleep. Water drops continue on lingering hot spots, but scanner talk says things are close to being under control.

Some fire companies already heading south. Kern County’s convoy got big cheers and loud honks from locals driving by.

Update 9:57 AM: Lots of photos from Flickr
Check out the following for some great/horrible photos from Flickr about the Malibu fire. I’ve requested permission to post most of these on blog.sudosu.net; when I get permission I’ll post them here.

Spaceman Spiffy
Spectacular ground-level shots of fire.
Shots of fire from an airplane.
Shots of fire and helicopters from along the beach
Shots from in and around Pepperdine
More helicopter shots.
Multiple shots of Malibu fire
Malibu fire shots from a photojournalist
Photo of Malibu fire from the air.
More Malibu fire photos.

Update 9:57 AM: City Of Malibu Evacuation Info as of 9:30 AM Oct 23

The Fire Department advises that there have been no changes in evacuation information. The following evacutation orders remain in place:Mandatory evacuations: Malibu Knolls, Malibu Colony, Sweetwater Canyon, Malibu Road, Carbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, Puerco Canyon, Rambla Pacifico, Monte Nido, Big Rock and Topanga Canyon south of Saddle Peak and Tuna Canyon, Schueren Road, Piuma Road. The evacuation route from Piuma and Schueren is Stunt Road to Mulholland to Topanga north.

Voluntary evacuations: Corral Canyon, Sunset Mesa, Old Topanaga Canyon, Hillside Drive and areas south.

Red Cross Evacuation Centers have been set up at Agoura High School and Palisades High School.

Update 9:59 AM: City of Malibu Fire Map as of Oct 23 6 AM — M, we need your Photoshop magic to interpret this!

Update 10:03 AM: News from The Malibu Times (Thanks to M for the tip — see his comment below.) Things do seem to be looking up. This one is closer to under control. Still, if you’re in a Mandatory Evac zone, GO.

Malibu fire update 8:30 a.m. TuesdayBy Jonathan Friedman, Meredith Rodriguez and Laura Tate / The Malibu Times

The Malibu fire has scorched up 4,400 acres. Flames continue to burn on the ridges of Las Flores Canyon, but are not moving down the canyon or the valley side. Fire Captain Kurt Schaefer, public information officer for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said containment of the fire is now 15 percent. The Santa Ana winds were predicted to end today, but officials say they will continue through to Wednesday afternoon. Schaefer said they still expect to have the fire extinguished by Friday.

“We have a better feeling about this fire,” Schaefer said, “but we’ll have an even better feeling once the Santa Ana winds go away.

“The threat is still out there.”

Fire personnel in the area have been reduced from 1,700 to 900.

Update 10:10 AM: News from HereInMalibu

* Check out the Malibu Times’ amazing photo of a water drop.* Malibu Surfside News has this photo gallery.

* Some Fire Stats:

About 4,500 acres burned.
No injuries or fatalities.
Fire nearly 20 percent contained.
Officials peg Friday as probable date for fire, which still burns in the Las Flores are, to be completely out.
Winds, now intermittent, expected to end on Wednesday.

Update 10:12 AM: Pepperdine update from 10:00 AM

October 23rd, 2007 at 10:00 AMMalibu Canyon Fire Update

Pepperdine officials have announced that classes will not be held on the Malibu campus today, October 23. Events scheduled for today on the Malibu campus have also been cancelled as the University continues to work closely with local, county, and state fire officials in response to the Malibu Canyon fire. Only critical support personnel should report for work.

All Pepperdine campuses outside Malibu remain open for classes.

All roads leading to the Malibu campus are closed at this time. Information about current road closures is available on the road condition hotline at (310) 506-ROAD (7623).

At the present time, students, faculty, and staff on the Malibu campus remain safe and it is recommended that they not leave campus.

Update 10:13 AM: Additional NASA Satellite photo from yesterday afternoon.

NASA satellites continue to capture remarkable new images of the wildfires raging in Southern California. At least 14 massive fires are reported to have scorched about 425 square miles from north of Los Angeles to southeast of San Diego.These latest images, captured by NASA satellites on the afternoon of October 22, show the thick, billowing smoke coming off the numerous large fires and spreading over the Pacific Ocean. Fire activity is outlined in red.

Update 10:20 AM — SUMMARY: Things appear to be looking up for the Malibu / Canyon fire. It hasn’t moved much from where it was last night, and containment figures are up. A change in wind direction means all bets are off, and there could still be houses very close to the fire that are threatened — but for everyone else, things are looking up. Fires elsewhere in the state aren’t cooperating as much, and there’s lots of bad news from those fires. The Western side of the Malibu / Canyon fire appears to be under control, and the Eastern side appears to be holding. If you are in a mandatory evacuation area, you should still GET OUT IMMEDIATELY. If you are in a voluntary evacuation area, use your own judgement based on this and other news sources, and what you can see and smell for yourself.

Update 11:06 AM: Very few updates, probably because the fire appears to be standing still. Good news from Brett in a comment on yesterday’s updates:

I just went up to the top of the hill where I live, overlooking the ridge by Stunt and Las Flores area, looks much better than yesterday, no planes, no smoke visible, winds still strong in our favor.

Update 11:30 AM: The most-excellent M superimposed the very vague Malibu City Fire Map from 6 AM today on a map with roads and etc. that we can actually read. Click the map for image size options. Full-size version here. Thanks very much, M!
This pretty much confirms what we already know. (And because the fire hasn’t moved much, this is probably still accurate.) News to me was the small area of fire BETWEEN Las Flores and Topanga, by PCH. I haven’t heard any mention of that from anyone. I’ll be updating the Google Map shortly. M said in an instant message (and I agree): “Definitely heard nothing, but it could possibly match up with the reports that lower topanga had been under evac orders for a while.”

Update 11:37 AM: Update from T-CEP stamped 11:09 AM:

Residents are now able to go in and out of the Canyon with proper ID. Restrictions will be upheld in Zone 8. There will be no traffic into Zone 8, which begins at Tuna Canyon and Saddle Peak. Both roads are closed and Sheriffs are posted.

Update 12:01 PM Updated the Google Map with the info that M provided from the Malibu City Fire Map.

View Larger Map

Update 12:14 PM: Krystal pointed me to a list of fire maps — many have been linked previously on this site, but others are new — they cover all of SoCal, focusing on the San Diego fires, as they are the largest and most serious at the moment.

Update 12:26 PM: News from T-CEP

October 23 – 12:02 PMThe smoke that Topanga Residents are currently seeing and smelling is being blown into the Canyon from other out-of-the-area fires.

Update 1:06 PM: From T-CEP

On Tuesday, October 23, at 7:00 p.m., the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the City of Malibu will conduct a community meeting to provide information regarding the Canyon Fire incident. Officials will discuss the current status and projections for lifting evacuation orders and re-opening roads. City officials, Sheriff’s Department representativea and Animal Control representatives will also be on hand to provide information and answer questions. This meeting will be held at Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive.For those residents who are unable to attend the Tuesday meeting due to any remaining road closures, a second meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 24, at 7:00 p.m. at the Agoura / Calabasas Community Center located at 27040 Malibu Hills Road in Calabasas.

I won’t be there, but I’m thinking that T-CEP and other news sources will cover it. If you’re going to be there, please send me notes from the meeting to jschofield@gmail.com.

LA County Fire is reporting 22 structures damaged or destroyed in the Malibu / Canyon fire.

City of Malibu has updated road closure information:

While it is understandable that residents, business owners, and those who work in Malibu are anxious for roads to open, please note that roads must be kept clear for Fire and Sheriff’s personnel and for the many utility employees who are working to restore telephone, electric, and cable service. Please comply with road closures and stay out of the area unless absolutely necessary.Road closures: The following are “hard” road closures – closed to everyone, including residents:

* Malibu Canyon from Civic Center to Piuma
* PCH between Webb Way and Las Flores
* Schueren Road from south Saddle Peak and Stunt
* Piuma at Schueren
* Saddle Peak east of Schueren
* Tuna Canyon between PCH and Saddle Peak

PCH is open from the eastern city limits to Las Flores and from the western city limits to Webb Way. However, you will not be able to get past those points, even if you are a resident.

This information was provided by the Fire Department as of October 23 at 12:30 p.m.

Please note that road closures are subject to change as conditions change. The information provided here is based on information provided to us by the Fire and Sheriff’s Departments.

Update 1:17 PM: EXCITING NEWS City of Malibu has updated evacuation information.

Updated Evacuation Information (10/23/07 at 1:00 p.m.)The following evacuation orders remain in place:

Mandatory evacuations: Las Flores Canyon, Sweetwater Canyon, Carbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, Rambla Pacifico, Topanga Tactical Zone 8, Top of Piuma and Schueren Road

Voluntary evacuations: None

I’ll call T-CEP to see if I can confirm that the voluntary evacuation orders have been rescinded.

Update 1:20 PM E-mail from SREWolf that I’m publishing verbatim:

Hey, your blog and maps have been very useful. However, please double check the meaning of the pink area near big
rock on the Malibu 6am map before announcing bundles of new fire
flames on your maps, you have people panicking on Topanga Online.
The pink is a different color and the boundaries are demarcated
differently than the fire area, so it probably means something
different. I called T-Cep and they have nothing for that area on
their fire perimeter map for 8am this morning. I called LACFD in
Malibu just a few minutes ago and the fireman who answered didn’t
know what the pink was, guessed that it was marking areas which are
evacuated

Also you might want to add a new symbol for extinguished fire (as
opposed to active).

Please pass this on to M as well. Thanks again for all your great
information.

I’ll look into updating the Google Map to show extinguished areas. Fire appears to be out on Western front, but I have no idea what extent of fire is at Eastern side. I’ve heard reports that it’s limited to Las Flores canyon, but I’m really not sure. If anyone has any confirmed information, please send it to me and I’ll update the map with that info. E-mail is jschofield@gmail.com.

Update 1:26 PM: Good news! I called T-CEP; they confirm that voluntary evacuation orders have been lifted. All mandatory evacuation orders continue unchanged.

Update 1:29 PM: List of County Road Closures

Updated 1:36 PM: Updated Google Map. Fires in area along PCH between Las Flores and Topanga changed from fire symbols to question marks; they seem like they’re not likely to be a fire. Removed voluntary evacuation symbols. Changed some fire symbols on Eastern side of map to green. (There is no black fire symbol.) Would love to change more red fires to green; please send info to jschofield@gmail.com. (And if I’ve missed a notice in one of the items I’ve posted that should have changed a red to green, please let me know. There’s a lot going on here; I may have missed some.)

Update 1:48 PM: M sent me an updated burn map with the questionable area between Las Flores and Topanga removed. (View in highest-detail.)

Update 2:15 PM I have updated the Google Maps page to reflect the road closures on the LA County page. Things to note: It did not mention the residents-only closure at Topanga & Mulholland. Coupled with the lifting of the voluntary evacuation from the Northern Topanga Canyon area, that’s probably correct. I took it out. Also, “Latigo Canyon Road @ Mile Marker 2.08″ is closed; open to residents only. I have no idea where mile marker 2.08 is; placement of that road closure is approximate.

Update 2:38 PM: From T-CEP: “Change: Mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for Powderhorn and Monte Vista roads.” Google Map update shortly. Symbol for a lifted mandatory evacuation is a martini glass.
Update 5:02 PM: LA County Fire says “Direction of the fire: Holding Still.” Good news again! NASA has updated satellite imagery. The City Of Calabasas says:

At least 4400 acres burned, 15% Contained
14 structures damaged, 8 destroyed
Current fire personnel on scene: 900The fire is currently limited to hot spots in the Piuma Road and Saddlepeak Road areas. The fire is NOT yet under control and high winds are expected this afternoon which could cause larger flare-ups to develop.

The City of Calabasas also had an update on Charter Communications cable/phone/internet status:

Charter Communications crews were in Malibu early on Tuesday to begin the restoration of fiber-optic lines destroyed on Sunday by the Malibu fires. Approximately 4,000 feet of fiber were burned near a critical crossing of Pacific Coast Highway, disrupting cable, Internet and telephone service for approximately 90 percent of Charter’s customers in the community.Charter crews are now installing wire strand to support the new cable. Services will return gradually; first telephone and Internet service followed closely by off-air broadcast signals and then digital cable channel. Charter expects that customers will have service restored between 6:30 and 8:30 pm this evening.

Charter advises that there may be “pockets” of customers who remain out of service due to fire damage not evident until the majority of service is restored. If customers continue to experience service-related interruptions after this time, they should call Charter Customer Service at 1-866-499-8080.

Update 5:17 PM: I’ve changed most of the active fires to inactive (green) on the Google Map. This is based on the information that the fire remains only in the Piuma Road and Saddle Peak Road areas. Please do NOT use this map for life-or-death decisions — I’m doing the best I can with vague, non-specific, and sometimes contradictory information. For instance I suspect that the fire is concentrated around the Eastern side of Piuma, and I could mark the ones on the West side as green — but I’m being conservative for now. As Brett pointed out in a comment below, it’s far better to celebrate too late than too early.

Update 5:25 PM: T-CEP says that all of Topanga Canyon Blvd. is open!

Updated 10-23 5:18pm
Topanga Cyn, Blvd is open to all with no restrictions.However, at this time, restrictions will be upheld in Zone 8. There will be no traffic into Zone 8, which begins at Tuna Canyon and Saddle Peak. Both roads are closed and Sheriffs are posted.

Zone 8 is closed, but Topanga Canyon Blvd. does not run through Zone 8. Called T-CEP. They confirmed that they were just told that all of Topanga Canyon was open from Mulholland to PCH. They could not confirm the exact location of the currently burning areas, but said the Eastern flank was around Las Flores and Piuma. I’m leaving it burning on the Google Map for all of Piuma until I get more confirmation.

Update 6:27 PM: Holy crap! LA County Fire says, “Direction of the Fire: No active fires at this time.” Is that fire-speak for “not burning?” I sure hope so!

Update 6:33 PM: City of Malibu says “6:15 p.m. 10/23/07 – Pacific Coast Highway is now open in both directions.” Good news! But LA County still lists PCH as closed. Hmm.

Update 6:39 PMJust called T-CEP; they confirm LA County Fire’s 15% containment figure but have heard nothing about “No active fires.”

Update 7:07 PMCity of Malibu reports 75% containment. That’s far higher than I’ve seen anyone else report. (All other sources say 15%.)

Update 7:18 PM: I’m standing down. Malibu fire appears to be no longer a threat to inhabited areas; it may be out altogether. Look here for updates (and e-mail me) if things get more active; otherwise the need for minute-by-minute updates appears to be past. Thanks VERY much to everyone who helped make this site useful. My thoughts go out to people in Malibu and Topanga who lost their homes, and people in other areas of Southern California who are still battling wildfires.

Update 10:10 AM: LA County Fire says 2400+ acres burned; still 0% containment.

Update 10:18 AM: Pepperdine updated their emergency page at 9:45 AM:

All classes on the Malibu campus have been cancelled for today, Oct. 22. Only critical support personnel should report to campus via PCH south from Kanan Dume Rd. The Pepperdine graduate campuses outside of Malibu will be open and classes will be held. Only critical communication systems, such as email, Internet connectivity, and telephone services, will likely be available today.

Students, faculty, and staff members who were relocated to the Tyler Campus Center, Payson Library, and Firestone Fieldhouse were allowed to return to their dorms and on-campus residences around 2 p.m. yesterday. All have been requested not to leave campus.

All roads leading to Pepperdine University are closed.

For regularly updated information, please call the toll free emergency hotline at (888) 286-5659.

Update 10:20 AM: More news from HereInMalibu, with photos:

Deep in the canyons the fire still burns, though nothing like the infernos in Canyon Country or San Diego County. Here in Malibu we’re in the watchful, woeful mode, just beginning to absorb the changes to our little town. Winds are high and so dry, your skin stretches tight and your lips crack. PCH is clamped shut, strict roadblocks at Puerco Canyon and Kanan Road. The Civic Center is a staging area for everyone who has a hand in keeping us safe.

Update 10:24 AM: From National Interagency Fire Center:

2,400 acres at 10 percent contained. This fire is two miles north of Milibu. Mandatory evacuations were implemented in Monte Nido, Malibu Colony, Malibu Road, Sweetwater Canyon, Puerco Canyon, Carbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, Rambla Pacifica, Big Rock and Topanga Canyon tactical zone 8. Several roads in the area are closed.

Update 10:26 AM: Another bulletin with photo from HereInMalibu:

Our fire, about 2,500 acres, is now 10 percent contained. It burns east of Carbon Canyon, though with high winds, all parts of the city remain on alert. All schools here and in Topanga are closed.

Update 10:34 AM: More news from HereInMalibu:

The major update at this time: tanker planes now fighting the fire, which burns with renewed vigor, in Carbon Canyon area.

“Renewed vigor” in Carbon Canyon area is bad for Topanga.

Update 11:26 AM: LA County Fire confirms 10% containment figure.

Update 11:36 AM: Fire Fact Sheet from Malibu City:

This information was provided by the Fire Department:

Time of Alarm: 4:55 a.m. Sunday, October 21, 2007

Acres burned: 2400 acres

Current condition: 10% contained

Expected containment time: Unknown

Firefighters assigned: 1446+

Structures burned: 5 single family dwellings, 1 church, 1 commercial trailer

Structures damaged: 9 single family dwellings, 5 commercial businesses

Evacuation status: 500 homes / approximately 1500 people

Only really new information on fact sheet is that almost 1500 firefighters are assigned to the Malibu Fire. I suspect that the evacuation count does not include people (like me!) who live outside Malibu.

Update 10:39 AM: Malibu City Evacuation Status page has more detail on where in Topanga mandatory evacuation stops and voluntary starts.

Per information from the Fire Department:

All Mandatory evacuations remain in effect. The Topanga and Sunset Mesa voluntary evacuations also remain in place. Be alert and be prepared and continue to monitor television and radio news.

Mandatory evacuations:ﾠ Malibu Knolls, Malibu Colony, SweetwaterﾠCanyon, Malibu Road, ﾠCarbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, Puerco Canyon, Rambla Pacifico, Monte Nido, Big Rock and Topanga Canyon south of Saddle Peak and Tuna Canyon

Voluntary evacuations:ﾠ Corral Canyon, Sunset Mesa, Old Topanaga Canyon, Hillside Drive and areas south

Red Cross Evacuation Centers have been set up at Agoura High School and Palisades High School.ﾠ

Update 11:49 AM: From LA Times:

The fire was pushed by winds that strengthened early today and threatened to continue east to Las Flores Canyon, a rustic community evacuated at 3 a.m.
…

Carbon Canyon is narrow, traversed by a serpentine two-lane road. Multimillion-dollar homes are along the ridgelines.

“We’re going to have this kind of activity every time the wind kicks up,” said Edward Osorio, a Los Angeles County Fire Department inspector. “We still only have 10% containment here, which is not a heck of a lot.”

Sheriff’s deputies who had assembled in Malibu began heading out to Las Flores Canyon to warn residents of the danger.

“We’ll be going door to door,” said one deputy as he headed off in his cruiser.

More than 1,500 firefighters were battling the blaze in Malibu. On Sunday, helicopters had been especially valuable, dropping retardant. The aircraft were on the ground during the night, but some reconnaissance flights resumed this morning with full aerial attacks expected later.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Bob Goldman stood this morning on the driveway of Fire Station No. 70 at Carbon Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway. Flames headed his way.

“This fire really fooled me. Last night when I went to bed I thought, ‘Ah, this fire is just going to punk around on the hillside, it’s not particularly active.’ But when I woke up this morning, I was shocked. I never thought it would reach my fire station.”

Like many fire officials, he said he was worried that the fire was on the verge of moving into nearby Las Flores Canyon, just to the east. The canyon is a designated “trigger point,” meaning that if it becomes engulfed in flames, plans call for ordering the evacuation of the 12,000 to 14,000 people who live in Topanga Canyon to the east.

I assume Las Flores Canyon is the trigger point for mandatory evacuation, because they’ve already called for voluntary evacuation of Topanga.

Other fires in the area are also wreaking havoc; they are diverting resources from Malibu to Orange County and San Diego. Appropriately, in my opinion — apparently 250,000 people have been evacuated in San Diego county.

Update 12:03 PM: According to City of Malibu Evacuation Information, Piuma Road south of Saddle Peak has been added to Voluntary evacuation list.

Update 12:05 PM: New from HereInMalibu

Cruising around Malibu this morning, the little red pickup offering a bit of camouflage amid all the red rescue vehicles.

Ralphs open and oddly empty. Firefighters resting and listening to scanners, buying something to drink. Clerks worried and heaping blessings upon us.

Here’s the clock tower next to Diedrich’s. Below that, especially ominous to a mobile home dweller like me, the melted remains of a construction trailer.

Update 12:10 PM: City Of Malibu has a not-particularly informative fire map. I can’t see road names or exactly where stuff is. My Google Map also updated, but since I can’t watch TV here, fire info not as recent. New info from Pepperdine’s emergency site:

Pepperdine University officials continue to work closely with local, county, and state fire officials regarding the Malibu Canyon fire.

At the present time, students, faculty, and staff on the Malibu campus remain safe following a brief period of being sheltered in place yesterday. All have been requested not to leave campus. All roads leading to the Malibu campus are closed. Information about the latest road closures is available on the road condition hotline at (310) 506-ROAD.

All classes on the Malibu campus have been cancelled for today, Oct. 22. All Pepperdine campuses outside Malibu are open for classes.

A decision will be made later today whether Malibu campus classes will be held tomorrow, Oct 23. Another update will be posted at 4 p.m.

Update 12:34 PM: LA County Fire has their own Google Map up. RCMurphy is posting more photos around Malibu Center.

Update 12:40 PM: Wanted to highlight this comment — see the original in the comments at the bottom of the page. This is about the City of Malibu fire map I mentioned earlier.

Did a quick photoshop superimposition of the Malibu map over a Google hybrid map, and it looks like you’d expect, based on the reports:
Malibu canyon to a little south of Piuma (northern extent); the pocket of untouched area near PCH is Cross Creek and near the Serra Retreat.

The eastern extent is past Sweetwater, nearing but about halfway between Sweetwater and Carbon Mesa.

As far as I can tell, assuming my overlay was lined up right.

Update 1:33 PM: News from HereInMalibu — Wind shift is bad news.

Upper Las Flores Canyon now in flames.

We can see lines of helicopters, which tank up at Pepperdine, vanish into the smoke as they dump water on the fire.

Noon. We feel it, see it, begin to gather on the bluff.

Wind shifts, fire shifts, and the first tiny tongue of flame appears.

Given what we’ve heard previously about fire in Las Flores triggering mandatory evacuations in Topanga, Topanga residents can probably expect to be told to leave shortly.

Update 1:42 PM: And there it is. I’m working from multiple, sometimes conflicting sources of information here — and I’m safely ensconced in Santa Monica where I can’t see anything firsthand — but it looks like all of Topanga is being evacuated. The below list includes “Topanga” (unqualified for the first time) and “Southwest portion of Topanga Canyon Boulevard.” This is timestamped 1:35 PM from the LA Times website:

The fires that swept through Malibu, Canyon Country and other parts of Southern California on Sunday forced several thousand residents to evacuate, triggered numerous road closures and prompted officials to cancel classes today at Pepperdine University and six schools in the Malibu area.

Canyon Fire in Malibu

Mandatory evacuations:

*Topanga Canyon

*Malibu Crest

*Serra Retreat

*Malibu Colony

*Malibu Knolls area

*Big Rock area

*Niedo

*Monte Nido area

*Rambla Pacifica

*Las Flores Canyon Road

*Carbon Canyon Road

*Tuna Canyon Road

*Malibu Road

*Sweetwater Canyon Road

*Carbon Mesa Road

*Puerco Canyon Road

*Powder Horn Ranch Road

*Monte Vista Drive

*Southwest portion of Topanga Canyon Boulevard

*Authorities also called for a voluntary evacuation of Corral Canyon Road and Sunset Mesa.

Those fleeing the fire were directed to two Red Cross shelters:

*Agoura High School, 28545 W. Driver Ave.; Agoura Hills

* Palisades Charter High School, 15777 Bowdoin St., Pacific Palisades

Road closures: Northbound Pacific Coast Highway at Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Southbound PCH at Kanan Dume Road. Southbound Las Virgenes Road at Mulholland Drive. Southbound Kanan Dume Road at Cornell. Las Virgenes Road at Piuma Road. Malibu Canyon Road between PCH and Piuma Road. Carbon Canyon Road at PCH. Big Rock Drive at PCH. Tuna Canyon Road at Saddle Peak Road. Topanga Canyon Boulevard at Mulholland Drive. Malibu Canyon Road at Mulholland Drive. Las Flores Canyon Road at Rambla Pacifica Road. Malibu Canyon Road at Civic Center Way. Only residents and emergency vehicles permitted on PCH between Kanan Dume Road and Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

School closures:

*Topanga Elementary School will be closed today, as will Calmont School in Topanga Canyon.

*Four schools in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will be closed:

*Malibu High School

*Cabrillo Elementary

*Webster Elementary

*Point Dume Elementary

For more information, residents can go to Malibu High School, 30215 Morning View Drive; call the Malibu city hotline at (310) 456-9982; visit www.ci.malibu.ca.us; or send an e-mail to malibucityhall@yahoo.com

Update 2:04 PM: Just spoke with my neighbor; he has not yet been told to mandatory evacuate. Called T-CEP: Eastern front of fire has crossed Piuma and is heading towards Schueren Road. Evacuation from Zones 2, 5, 6, 7, 9 is still voluntary. (T-CEP Zone Map) I’m in Zone 6. Fire is moving in NE direction. From T-CEP Status Page:

Los Angeles County Fire: AS OF 1:14PM MONDAY OCT 22
UPDATE:
Mandatory evacuation:
Piuma (entire road)
Schueren (entire road)
Voluntary evacuation for Zone 2,5,6,7,9 and Sunset Mesa.

Update 3:21 PM: City of Malibu Evacuation Info: Topanga south of Stunt Road is now mandatory evacuation. Old Topanga Canyon is now voluntary evac.

Per information from the Fire Department:

Mandatory evacuations:ﾠ Malibu Knolls, Malibu Colony, SweetwaterﾠCanyon, Malibu Road, ﾠCarbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, Puerco Canyon, Rambla Pacifico, Monte Nido, Big Rock and Topanga Canyon south of Saddle Peak and Tuna Canyon, Schueren Road, Piuma Road. The evacuation route from Piuma and Schueren is Stunt Road to Mulholland to Topanga north.

Voluntary evacuations:ﾠ Corral Canyon, Sunset Mesa, Old Topanaga Canyon, Hillside Drive and areas south.

Red Cross Evacuation Centers have been set up at Agoura High School and Palisades High School.ﾠ An evacuation center is also set up at Malibu High School.

Update 3:34 PM: Here’s HereInMalibu’s 3:12 PM update:

Up at the barn now, where the temp is in the 90s, but still, utterly still. Planes and helicopters dip in and out of the canyons, where a trace of smoke hangs in the sky.

Kanan Road is open, and people with local ID allowed in and out.

No gas stations open in Malibu, so conserve what you’ve got.

Update 3:46 PM: LA County Fire just upped fire size to 2700+ acres.

Update 4:20 PM: HereInMalibu says things are getting hotter — title of this photo is “wind shifts, flames appear.”

Update 4:44 PM: More news from Pepperdine:

Malibu Canyon Fire Update

Pepperdine officials have announced that it will not hold classes on the Malibu campus on Tuesday, October 23. Events scheduled for Tuesday on the Malibu campus have also been cancelled as the University continues to work closely with local, county, and state fire officials in response to the Malibu Canyon fire. Only critical SUPPORT personnel should report for work.

All Pepperdine campuses outside Malibu remain open for classes.

All roads leading to the Malibu campus are closed at this time. Information about current road closures is available on the road condition hotline at (310) 506-ROAD (7623).

At the present time, students, faculty, and staff on the Malibu campus remain safe and it is recommended that they not leave campus.

Update 4:51 PM: Di Sanders has some scary shots of the fire. I think it’s time for her to get away from wherever she’s standing:

Update 5:04 PM: This is a NASA satellite photo of the fires. The first taken at 11:35 AM; the second at 2:50 PM. Red outline shows the size of the fires at each time. Smoke plumes speak for themselves. Click the photo to go to NASA’s page on the fires.

Update 5:11 PM: Google map (not mine) showing all fires in Socal.

Update 5:21 PM: Some updates to road closures (info from T-CEP) on my Google Map.

Update 5:34 PM: News from CA OES:

Per OES staff at the Incident Command Post, the fire continues to burn and is currently at 2000 acres. There are 500 fire fighters assigned as the winds remain unpredictable.

News of note there is that there used to be almost 1500 firefighters; they’re clearly drawing down the force to take care of the other wildfires in the area. Other new news is that the burn area is up to 2000 acres.

Update 6:04 PM: More from HereInMalibu:

After a welcome afternoon lull, a sunset bout of wind. Fitful and fretful, not as sustained and scary as earlier today.

Here’s the view of Malibu’s most active fire, where a plane and three helicopters are making a final assault.

Update 6:19 PM: City of Malibu reports 2400 acres as of 5:30 PM. Also, their Fire Fact Sheet reports additional structures damaged and destroyed:

This information was provided by the Fire Department:

Time of Alarm: 4:55 a.m. Sunday, October 21, 2007

Acres burned: 2400 acres

Current condition: 10% contained

Expected containment time: Unknown

Firefighters assigned: 1446+

Structures burned: 6 single family dwellings, 1 church, 1 commercial trailer, two outbuildings

Structures damaged: 13 single family dwellings, 6 commercial businesses, 3 outbuildings, 2 classrooms

Evacuation status: 500 homes / approximately 1500 people

Update 6:23 PM: Sigh. LA County Fire now reports 2700+ acres.

Update 6:27 PM: I’m leaving work. I’ll be heading to my parents’ home to pick up my car, and will then check conditions and evaluate whether or not I can head up Topanga to clear some more stuff out of my house. (I’ve got all the REALLY important stuff — but there is some art on the walls, prints of my photos, etc. that I’d love to save. Still feel that my house won’t be in the path of the fire, but I’m much less confident than I used to be.

Update 10:54 PM: Headed up to Topanga. Had to show ID and phone bill to CHP to get past checkpoint at Topanga and Mulholland. (My ID doesn’t show my Topanga address.) Got a small load of stuff — paintings, framed photos, a few pieces of sculpture, and a bunch of clothes. Now back at the ‘rents and going to sleep. More updates tomorrow, again interspersed with work. (Hopefully with much more work.)

Update 8:44 AM Oct 23: Further updates will be posted here: http://blog.sudosu.net/2007/malibu-fire-day-3-oct-23/

I have time (can’t see flames; they haven’t crested any hills around me) so I’m packing up essentials and heading to my parent’s house. With cats, which should go over wonderfully with the parents.

I’m turning off the computers now, and taking some of them with me. I may be blogging about this later tonight; I may not. If you have my phone number, feel free to call; especially if you’re worried. If you don’t have my phone number, feel free to direct-twitter me (http://twitter.com/schof) and it will be texted to my phone.

I strongly suspect that the flames will not reach my part of Topanga. Still, I’ve said all along that if I got the call for voluntary evacuation, I would go. I’m going.

Update 9:42 PM: Safely set up at my parents’ house. Several SEVERELY pissed-off cats hiding under my old single bed. All the essentials loaded in my car, and the house fire-proofed as much as possible. (Not very.)

At that time (9 AM), PCH was open at least North past Topanga, and Topanga Canyon was completely open.

I’ll be posting updates as more information comes in on http://twitter.com/schof and here.

Update 10:39 AM: Fire is in the area around Pepperdine. I’m about 12.5 miles away from that by road; less as the bird (or fire) flies.

Update 10:45 AM: Malibu Castle completely engulfed in flame. Photos from fire on HereInMalibu’s Flickr page.

Update 10:48 AM: Fire has crossed PCH; some homes along beach engulfed by fires sparked by embers; firefighters fighting to keep neighboring houses intact.

Update 10:49 AM: Update from HereInMalibu:

Our Lady of Malibu’s school and Webster Elementary school now both in danger.

Three homes in flames on Malibu Road.

Fire crews at the Ralphs’ shopping center, where palm trees are in flames.

Update 10:52 AM: Some brush on fire on Pepperdine campus; no structures involved on campus yet; students and staff evacuated to Cafeteria and Gym; not yet evacuated off-site. Malibu Presbyterian Church fully-engulfed. CVS Pharmacy on PCH on fire, but not engulfed. On news saw firefighters on roof.

Update 10:55 AM: From HereInMalibu

Update 10:57 AM: Inspector Ron Haralson from LA County Fire (interviewed on Channel 2) says 700 acres involved in fire; was 500 acres around 8:30 AM. Pepperdine students and Malibu residents evacuated to centers at Zuma Beach; Red Cross on site to provide assistance. No injuries reported. Three businesses; multiple residences destroyed.

We’re listening to the scanner here in Paradise Cove. Now two fronts to the fire: east side of Malibu Canyon has burned through to PCH. West front still in the hills and now headed for the sea.

Fire in Serra Retreat. Spot fires in Civic Center.

Winds 50 mph. Gusts to 108 mph.

Copters sucking water from ponds at Pepperdine, which has been evaucated.

Update 11:01 AM: From Channel 2: 200 homes evacuated; five destroyed. Additional evacuation center at Agoura Hills High School.

Update 11:05 AM: From CBS2’s Fire Fact Sheet:

ROAD CLOSURES
• Northbound Pacific Coast Highway at Topanga Canyon Road
• Southbound Pacific Coast Highway at Kanan-Dume Road
• Northbound Topanga Canyon Road at Pacific Coast Highway
• Northbound Kanan-Dume Road at Pacific Coast Highway
• Southbound Topanga Kanan-Dume at Mulholland
• Southbound Las Virgenes at Mulholland

EVACUATIONS
• Residents in Puerco Canyon

EVACUATION CENTER
An evacuation center is located near Pacific Coast Highway and Trancas.

Update 11:19 AM: From LA County Fire Dept:

Malibu Wildfire is at 0% containment now at 700+ acres. Several homes have been destroyed. Currently Evacuation Center is at Zuma Beach area, 200 homes have been evacuated.

Update 11:25 AM: Castaic fire getting larger; resources being diverted from Malibu to Castaic. At least three wildfires currently in LA County.

Update 11:29 AM: HereInMalibu still on-site; this is how close she is to the fire.

Fire now 750 acres.

No one – not even residents – now allowed through to Malibu.

Update 11:33 AM: From Pepperdine Website:

There is a fire in Malibu Canyon, near Pepperdine’s Malibu campus. At this time, as a precaution, all students have been relocated in Firestone Fieldhouse and faculty and staff residents have been relocated to Tyler Campus Center. Pepperdine has implemented its shelter in place plan. No campus evacuations are planned at this time.

All campus events have been canceled for today

Road Closures: Pacific Coast Hwy is closed between Topanga Canyon and Kanan-Dume Road. Malibu Canyon Road is closed at Mulholland Hwy.

Update 11:40 AM: According to LA County Fire Department, fire now at 1000 acres, still 0% contained.

Update 11:55 AM: According to HereInMalibu, fire now at 1,200 acres. LA County Fire still says 1000.

Update 12:33 PM: Press Conference with Chief Micah Freeman of LA County Fire Dept. One thousand acres burned with zero containment. Aircraft are working the East flank of the fire because wind is driving the fire in SE direction parallel to PCH. No injuries to citizens or firefighters. Two commercial structures are a total loss; three residences are a total loss; 9 additional residences with moderate to minor damage. Four businesses at Colony Creek Shopping Center sustained damage. Fire is currently moving East towards Carbon Canyon area. Fire will last for days; thousands of homes will be threatened over course of fire. Voluntary evacuations: Coral Canyon, Carbon Canyon, Carbon Mesa, and Rambla Pacifica. Mandatory evacuations: Montenido, Malibu Colony, Puerco Canyon, Sweetwater Canyon. PCH is closed between Kanan Dune Road and Topanga Canyon; Topanga Canyon at PCH and Topanga Canyon at the valley side are closed to everyone but residents.

Update 12:58 PM: I created a Google Map of Mandatory and Voluntary evacuations based on the press conference above.

Update 1:19 PM: Photos from earlier in the day from HereInMalibu:

Update 1:27 PM: From emergency.pepperdine.edu:

The Malibu area is experiencing a significant brush fire under windy conditions. At this time, no pepperdine structures have been lost although the brush fire continues to burn around portions of campus. The L.A. County Fire Department is on hand with two strike teams and continues to monitor the situation carefully. Steps have been taken to shelter and place all faculty, staff, and students in the Tyler Campus Center, Firestone Fieldhouse, and Payson Library. Conditions can change rapidly, so all faculty, staff, and students are urged to stay in the three assigned locations and stay off campus roads.

All scheduled events on the Malibu campus for Sunday, October 21 have been canceled.

Malibu Canyon is closed from Mulholland to PCH and PCH is closed between Topanga and Kanan.

Update 1:47 PM: There’s a site just created for Malibu Fire coverage: http://www.malibufires.org/ (Via HereInMalibu.)

Update 1:50 PM: MalibuFire.org’s map of the fire:

I’ve also been updating my Google Map of fire progress and evacuations and road closures.

Update 1:54 PM: LA County Fire updated their status page:

Malibu Wildfire is at 0% containment now at 1000+ acres. Several homes have been destroyed. Currently Evacuation Center is at Zuma Beach area, Firestone Field House and Agoura High School.

Mandatory Evacuations:

• Montenedo
• Malibu Rd
• Malibu Colony
• Pepperdine
• Malibu Crest
• Serra Retreet
• Big Rock

Information on Animal Evacuations are:
Large Animals (818) 991-0071 Desoto/Victory
Small Cats/Dogs evacuation location is
Agoura Shelter

Update 2:00 PM: If LA County Fire Dept. info is correct, Big Rock Road is being mandatory evacuated. That leapfrogged some voluntary evacuation notices, and appears to signal a significant move or threatened move of the fire to the East.

Update 2:53 PM: More news from HereInMalibu’s scanner:

Fire moving in both directions – just dropped to the hill above the Malibu Pier and is running uphill toward Saddle Peak.

800 firefighter now in Malibu. 1,000 more on the way. Firefighters’ shift change has begun, with fresh companies relieving those who have been at work since before dawn.

Update 2:55 PM: LA County Fire says we’re now at 1200+ acres; still zero containment.

Update 2:58 PM: Pepperdine says:

Students, faculty, and staff members who were relocated to the Tyler Campus Center, Payson Library, and Firestone Fieldhouse were allowed to return to their dorms and on-campus residences around 2 p.m. All are requested not to leave campus.

The Health and Counseling Centers have relocated to the Rho parking lot and will remain open until 9 p.m. for all members of the Pepperdine community in need of their services. Flashlights will distributed throughout the Pepperdine community due to cyclical power outages.

All classes on the Malibu campus have been cancelled tomorrow, Oct. 22. Only critical support personnel should report to campus tomorrow. The Pepperdine graduate campuses outside of Malibu will be open tomorrow and classes will be held. Only critical communication systems, such as email, Internet connectivity, and telephone services, will likely be available.

This matches what I’ve been hearing about the fires around Malibu Canyon being largely out, and the main thrust of the fire now being Eastward along PCH.

Update 3:05 PM: MalibuFires.org just cut-and-pasted my entire coverage onto their front page. It’s all cool — this is about getting the information out there, not monetizing clicks.

Update 3:17 PM: Cable went out, so no more TV. I’ll try to stream something to get more reports. Verizon FIOS (obviously) still working.

Update 3:32 PM: Watching Channel 4 on streaming video now. I continue to update the Google Maps with new fire locations. Burning heavily on hills above PCH just West of Carbon Mesa road.

Update 3:35 PM: New photo from HereInMalibu:

Update 3:40 PM: Looks like the fire around Malibu Canyon is starting to burn again. So sez Channel 4.

Update 3:45 PM: MrPuffy has a bunch of photos from Saddle Peak Road looking down at the Malibu Fire. Channel 4 says 2000 acres burned; five residential structures destroyed; five commercial structures destroyed, and five residential structures damaged. Fire now appears to be moving West, says fire fighter interviewed.

Update 3:43 PM: News from HereInMalibu:

It’s been quiet for half an hour now. Absolutely no wind, but we know that can’t last. The fire burns south and east of us, zero percent contained, a hundred percent unpredictable.

Residents in the Cove are restless. We’re caught between two traffic stops – Malibu Canyon and Kanan Road. Can’t go south at all. North is iffy – you might get out, but chances of being allowed back in are slim. So we’re stuck, waiting to see what the wind will do, where the fire will go. We walk to the bluff to watch smoke waft from the cleft in the hills and wonder what piece of our sweet home town we’re losing now.

Update 3:53 PM: Updated Google Map; Voluntary Evacs changed to Mandatory. Got permission from MrPuffy to publish some shots:

UPDATE 4:01 PM: More from HereInMalibu:

And just like that, the fire heads west.

The wind kicked up again a few minutes ago, hot and strong and steady. Smoke pours out of Latigo Canyon, where planes and ‘copters swarm. Almost 4 p.m.. We’re heading into autumn dusk, an unsettling time to lose the light. Time to collect the dogs, pack the Plymouth and think about the best place to spend the night.

Update 4:14 PM: I see smoke North of me up Topanga Canyon. Not sure how that’s possible unless wind direction has shifted. Just had a water-dropping helicopter fly over my house. Getting close to hauling ass.

Update 4:21: I think the smoke I see is from the Chatsworth fire, as weather.com shows the wind coming out of the NE — which means it’s NOT blowing the fire towards me.

Update 4:40 PM: Press Conference with Zev Yaroslavsky: Mandatory evacuation of lower part of Topanga Canyon, Lower Tuna Canyon area. People in Topanga Canyon are asked to take large animals to Pierce College immediately as a precaution. Sherrif Lee Baca: Evacuated Pepperdine, central Malibu, Rambla Pacifico, Las Flores, Carbon Canyon, Big Rock have all been evacuated. Tuna Canyon is being evacuated. Ocean side (near beach) of Topanga Canyon is being evacuated.

LA County Fire Chief: Fire has consumed more than 1200 acres; they have made considerable progress. Fire is being held in Carbon Mesa/Carbon Canyon area by air drops. No air drops will made after dark. Fire still not contained. Winds will double after dark. Approximately 700 firefighters are on site; 350 additional coming in overnight. 1500 people have been evacuated. Another couple of days at least until fire is contained. Malibu Canyon road between PCH and Piuma is closed until further notice. PCH is closed between Kanaan Dune and Topanga. 5 single-family dwellings and two commercial buildings destroyed. 9 single-family dwellings damaged; 5 businesses damaged. Topanga Elementary closed tomorrow; all schools in Malibu closed tomorrow.

Update: 5:02 PM: From LA County Fire Site: School Closures Tomorrow:

Malibu HS, Malibu Middle School, Point Dune Elementary, Webster Elementary, Cabrillo Elementary

Update: 5:05 PM: Deneill took some great photos of the fire:

Update 5:08 PM: Feeling uneasy, but not yet evacuating. Fire seems to be holding firm at Carbon Canyon / Carbon Mesa. This is good, except that winds are expected to pick up at night, and the helicopters can’t drop water at night. They are performing mandatory evacuations in “Lower/Beach Side Topanga Canyon,” but I don’t really know how far that extends. I’m going to start loading up the car just in case, and getting the cat cages ready.

Update 5:43 PM: Chabad of Malibu evacuates their Torah:

Update 6:43 PM: Got the automated call asking me to evacuate. People South of Topanga Center should go south on Topanga to PCH, and then East on PCH to Pallisades High School. People North of Topanga Center (That’s me!) should head North on Topanga to the Valley, and…I didn’t really pay attention. I’m heading, cats-in-hand, to my parents house. Computer being shut down. Will update further tonight if possible.

NOTE: This is NOT a rush, panicked evacuation. We can’t see flames, and it’s probably just a precaution. Still, I said all along that when I got the voluntary evacuation notice, I would go. I’m going.

Update 10:07 AM, October 22: All additional news will be posted here, on an article for today’s date: http://blog.sudosu.net/2007/malibu-fire-day-2-oct-22/

All photos in the usual place.

UPDATE: Krystal’s photos here.

This is the view from my front door. I can barely see across the canyon. Rain FTW!

This is Krystal B., who knows far more pirate jokes than I expected. The rest of the photos are in the usual place. (I didn’t take many this time.)

It was a beautiful hike, with a constant breeze from the ocean keeping us from baking too much. We saw a snake (not a rattler), too many lizards to count, two separate family groups of deer (including a baby in each group that still had the white “Bambi” spots), and a rabbit.

Grilled burgers at my place afterwards — best damn burger I’ve ever had, probably because we were so tired and hungry. (Plus, the grilled red onions are always awesome.)

Deer in the Trippet Ranch meadow at sunset.

Tired and squinting into the sun, but triumphant. On top of Eagle Rock in Topanga State Park. John Mark Schofield, Kate S., and Debbie I.

More deer. Same meadow at Trippet Ranch.

The rest of the photos are here.

I’ve been looking at the long list of technologies I need to master for work. (And quickly!) I’ve also been looking at the even longer list of technologies I’m interested in and would like to study in depth.

Clearly, I can’t do it all. Not immediately, at least. (And certainly not at the same time.) I need to be selective about what subjects I choose to tackle. But I also need to maximize my chances of being able to tackle these subjects.

As far as I can tell, that boils down to two main areas where I need work:

1) Time Management
2) Life Management

This was all brought about, by the way, by an excellent article I read by Steve Friedl about the process he went through penetration-testing a web app using SQL injection. Great article, but reading Steve’s site really brought home some areas where I need to update my skills.

Time Management

In poker, there’s the concept of “plugging leaks in your game.” Poker is a game of percentages, of making the best decisions possible given incomplete information, stress, and a variety of complicating factors. You can play well (even be a winning player) but have certain situations where you habitually don’t make the optimum choice. Maybe you don’t recognize the value of a certain pair of cards. Or you are easily bluffed when you’re short on chips. In any case, it’s a leak that, if plugged, can increase your overall win rate, sometimes significantly.

I feel I’m generally very productive, but I need to plug my leaks. I use NetNewsWire to keep up on a variety of tech news sites — and I’ll have to keep doing that, because knowing what’s coming (or what’s here right now) is vital to my current job performance and to my career in general. But I also have a number of non-tech-related feeds in NNW. Things like Slate.com. Warren Ellis. Others. I keep them segregated in an “Entertainment” folder, and don’t read them during work hours. But I want to maximize the return on effort I get while sitting at my computer — so I can use my non-computer time for things like hiking with K., my girlfriend. So all the non-workish feeds go. That’s a start.

I’ll have to work on disciplining my appetite for tech feeds, as well. Cutting out the less-vital ones, and making a list of the longer articles to read later, instead of reading an article on SQL Injection when I could be doing work with more of an immediate payoff.

In general, I’ll just have to be aware of how I’m spending my time.

Life Management

In terms of optimizing my life, I need to eat better, sleep better, and exercise more. Spend more time with my friends, as well. (Although right now much of my non-work time is spent with K. — I need to make an effort to keep my other relationships well fed as well.)

Right now I eat well on weekends with K., but my weekday diet is strictly bachelor-squalor — cheeseburgers, burritos, and sandwiches. (I’ll be sad if I have to give up Bay Cities Deli.) If I can make time to pick up some vegetables-in-a-bag before work, and perhaps some chicken or fish, I’ll be able to have nutritious lunches and dinners at work. (I’ll be sad again if I give up my bagel-and-cream-cheese breakfasts. Not sure what I’ll do there.)

I’ll need to get to sleep a little earlier too. I get home from work usually between 8:30 and 9:30 PM — and it often takes me a while to run down before I’m tired enough to sleep. I think exercise will help with that, though.

I love taking hikes when I get home from work (I live in the Santa Monica Mountains, and there’s lovely parks for hiking within walking distance of my house.) but I’m not crazy about hiking at night. I’ve done it, and it’s quite calm and peaceful — but sometimes a bit creepy, too. And even though I stick to fairly well-maintained trails, there is a slightly greater chance of losing my footing and breaking something, with nobody likely to come by until morning. And if I’m getting home from work at 9:30, there’s just no way I’m going for an hour’s hike.

So that leaves mornings. (Just hiking on weekends isn’t going to do much for my overall energy level. You need exercise 3-5 times a week for that.) I get up at 7:30 normally. Tonight I’ll set the alarm for 6:30, and get a short hike in before breakfast. If I can keep that up every morning (or at least most mornings) I’ll be in good shape for the rest of things I’m trying to do.

It’s a pretty ambitious plan I’ve set out for myself here. I’ll keep you posted on how I do. It took me almost two months to read a 5-page document on procrastination. Don’t hold your breath. But do cross your fingers for me.
UPDATE: I wrote this last night but didn’t post it until this morning. In the meantime, I went for an hour hike in my neighborhood — on a trail straight up a hill for 40 minutes, then 20 minutes back down to home. My calves are sore but I feel great! I’ll post more about my hikes and my general progress with the non-technical aspects of this plan.