California wild fires forcing mass celebrity evacuation

Oct.22: The multi-million pound homes of celebrities are under threat from wild fires sweeping through the Malibu Hills in southern California.

According to the Daily Mail, the homes of Mel Gibson and Olivia Newton John, Barbara Streisand, Pierce Brosnan and Ted Danson have been damaged considerably, and they have been evacuated.

Weather forecasts indicated that firefighters and residents faced two more days of high winds, hot temperatures and low humidity in the drought-stricken region.

The Malibu fire burned 2,200 acres from dawn to dusk and destroyed at least 10 buildings, including a landmark castle-like house and a Presbyterian church, officials said. No injuries were reported.

To the south in rural San Diego County, officials said one person died and 17 others were injured, including four firefighters, in a fire that scorched 14,000 acres and shrouded the skies over San Diego harbor to the west.

Another fire in San Diego forced the evacuation of all 36,000 residents of the town of Ramona.

Meanwhile, fire chiefs warned thousands of homes could be destroyed by the blaze in the up-market Malibu Crest and Serra Retreat areas, and admitted they could not control the fire because of the winds gusting at up to 65mph.

Thick smoke obscured the sun in the exclusive beachfront area, just 25 miles from Hollywood.

'This fire is zero-per cent contained, which means we are at the mercy of the winds,' the paper quoted Malibu Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich, as saying.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman said he expected the fire to last 'a couple of days'.

More than 400 firemen battled the fire as it jumped from mountain-side canyons home to expansive ranches to the beach.

California Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger said he was receiving briefings on the fire and would send more resources if needed. (ANI)