News Briefs

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Officials determine vehicle started recent fire

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators say it was a stolen and torched sports utility vehicle that was responsible for the 35-acre brushfire on Feb. 8 that caused schools to be closed and residents to contemplate evacuation from the Malibu Bowl area. “We were able to identify the vehicle as the point of ignition, and identify it as a stolen car from Oxnard,” Deputy Irma Gonzales said.

A person drove the 2005 Chevrolet Suburban to a fire road about a half-mile east of the Castro Peak radio towers at approximately 4 a.m. while Santa Ana winds were blowing at about 35 mph.

A city of Los Angeles fire helicopter spotted the blaze at 4:48 a.m., and the advancing flames were largely checked by city and county chopper pilots making water drops in the predawn darkness.

More than 100 fire trucks were sent from Los Angeles and Ventura counties, and costs for the fire fighting effort are still being added up. In addition, a Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District official said the district lost a large amount of state aid because five schools were closed for a day, and state aid is based on average daily attendance.

The fire road is accessible from several points, including the north end of Corral Canyon Road, and roads leading east from Latigo Canyon Road. Gonzales is asking any residents along those roads who may have seen anyone on foot to contact her at the Sheriff’s Arson and Explosives Detail at 562.946.7222.

Planning Commission decision appealed

Two separate appeals were filed last week of the Planning Commission’s approval earlier this month for a coastal development permit for the construction of a single-family home on Escondido Beach. The approval for the 3,578-square-foot home was appealed by Daniel Alberstone and Lisa Ogawa in one petition and Waverly Properties Inc. in another.

Council to consider LCP amendments

At its meeting on Monday, the City Council will consider several amendment proposals to the Malibu Local Coastal Program. If the council approves the items at its meeting, it must approve them again at a meeting next month before sending the proposal to the California Coastal Commission staff for review.

The Coastal Commission staff must either recommend the Coastal Commission voting body approve the amendments or tell the city why it does not find them to be satisfactory.

Children’s Lifesaving Foundation seeks donations

The Children’s Lifesaving Foundation is in need of items for its new Life Learning Center, which will open next month in Santa Monica.

At the center, at-risk, homeless and low-income children will be able to receive one-on-one tutoring sessions, use computers and the Internet, and participate in field trips and special workshops, Also, the parents will receive English and GED classes as well as financial, job-search and parenting workshops.

The CLF is in need of the following items for its center: five Macintosh iBook or G4 Laptop computers or new Apple Notebook Computers, HP LaserJet 2600N Color Printer, Printer/Copier/Fax-HP Officejet 6210 All-In-One (or more current model), gift certificates from stores for small office supplies and food and snacks for the children, new classic literature and children’s books, a small microwave oven, school supplies, white printer paper and a small boom box or iPod with small speakers. The CLF is also looking for people to volunteer as tutors on Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Anyone who can contribute items, contact Francesca at 310.450.3701.

-Hans Laetz and Jonathan Friedman