Hundreds of people were evacuated and 35 homes were destroyed by a wildfire in the California beach town of Malibu on Saturday, just one month after a series of fires devastated areas across the southern part of the state, DPA reported. Strong Santa Ana winds fanned the flames across 900 hectares, which broke out Saturday morning in the hills near Malibu, a luxurious oceanside area of Los Angeles favoured by celebrities. Thousands of additional residents had been warned that they may also have to evacuate soon, as 750 people worked to quell the flames. Warm and dry conditions and strong winds had placed the region under a red flag warning for fire danger over the weekend. The dangerous Santa Ana winds can reach speeds of up 100 kilometres per hour, quickly spreading fires. Hundreds of homes were destroyed by a series of wildfires in San Diego and Malibu, burning down 2,000 homes and blackening 1,900 square kilometres. Seventeen people were killed.
