No suicide mission for Malibu firefighters

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

At the incident command post by Malibu Civic Center, Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Edward Osorio said about 200 firefighters were leaving the Canyon fire, with some heading to San Diego. The 4,400-acre blaze was burning up to Piuma Road through Carbon Canyon Bowl, steep territory that is unsafe for firefighters.

“We can’t get in there in a canyon. We’d have to hike down, and you’re basically sending firefighters on a suicide mission,” Osorio said.

A plane is dropping fire retardant on the eastern fire line, from Rambla Pacifico to Las Flores Canyon Road, he said.

“The fire’s actually laid down pretty good,” Osorio said. “There is no active fire activity. Some hot spots are smoking.”

The western fire line is along Winter Canyon Road, and the northern line is at Piuma Road, Osorio said.

Some 700 homes have been evacuated of 2,100 people, Osorio said. The fire’s cause is under investigation, Osorio said.

-- Tami Abdollah