Hats off to those who stayed and saved their homes. I learned in the 1993 fire that ran down Carbon Canyon and Rambla Pacifico—four hours from Mulholland Highway to the ocean—that your property’s outcome is your decision; the fire department will not be there. If you are equipped both with fortitude and professional equipment, chances are good that you’ll save your house, as I did in ‘93 and ‘07. Of course, you need a large, cleared, defensible space, a one-hour rated house with no direct flame impingement, a guaranteed water supply and emergency egress before deciding your strategy.
The ‘93 fire was so fast and so high—flames at 100-150 feet high—that once three firemen were injured on Mansie Lane, they were pulled from fighting and played cards all night at Fire Camp 8. I have video evidence of zero fire trucks on Rambla Pacifico, except for one mighty four-man CDF unit. You are on your own: Their first objective is staying safe; your house is down the list. It’s clear this happened this time, too.
A running fire is dangerous, so the trucks go to Pacific Coast Highway, where they’re safe and it makes good TV.
Besides the questions prior writers have asked:
Why was the fire not stopped at the freeway? To my recollection, fire departments have never let a fire cross before. If you watch the time lapse fire map, almost all the progress of the fire front was stopped at the freeway, except the easternmost edge of the front: Why did that team fail to do their job?
And as Scott Dittrich said, the aerial attack that held the front at Malibu Canyon was superb, as we watched from Piuma. Those jet pilots dropping Phos-chek have serious courage flying in the canyons.
Watt Webb