Civic Center Fire Traced to Homeless Encampment

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The brush fire burns in the area behind Civic Center Way early one Monday morning in January. 

Sheriff’s Department arson investigators have officially traced back last week’s fire in the Malibu Civic Center to a homeless encampment. 

“Point of origin [was] in the immediate vicinity of a homeless camp,” Lt. Jim Royal of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station reported Thursday, speaking on behalf of investigators from the LASD Arson and Explosives Detail. 

An ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire, Royal reported, did not suggest foul play was involved.

Arson Explosives Detail is investigating,” he said. “There’s no indication at this time that it was intentional.”

Last week’s fire, which began Monday, Jan. 29, a little after 3 a.m., did not cause damage to any homes, though the Malibu Knolls neighborhood was evacuated as the fire came close to scorching several homes.