A small fire that broke out at a homeless encampment was quickly extinguished in Malibu near the Point Dume area on Monday afternoon, according to Fire Capt. David Leary of Los Angeles County Fire Station 71 in Malibu.
“It was a transient cooking fire,” Leary said. “Looked like they were trying to use up some coals but it burned up their encampment.”
The fire broke out on the south side of Pacific Coast Highway in a field area between Busch Drive and Heathercliff Road, according to officials. It was first reported at 3:25 p.m. and was put out by 3:34 p.m.
Leary confirmed the fire measured about 10 feet by 10 feet and did not spread to any nearby brush, burning only belongings that were presumably left there by transients. No structures were damaged or threatened.
He said transients were known to frequent the area where the fire was reported and Monday was not the first time a fire had sparked there.Â
“Three or four years ago the same thing happened at that spot,” Leary said.Â
Leary recalled several similar instances throughout Malibu when a transient camp had sparked fires.
“We had one over on Busch Drive three or four years ago too. Seven years ago there was one up by Guernsey [Avenue] just off Pacific Coast Highway,” Leary said.
No one was at the scene when firefighters arrived Monday, but Leary said it’s likely that transients will rebuild their camp in the same area.
“They’ll probably stay away from it for a while, but come back eventually,” he said.
Monday’s fire caused a temporary shutdown of Pacific Coast Highway between Busch Drive and Heathercliff Road due to firetrucks and emergency vehicles blocking the roadway. Sgt. Braden of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s station said the roadway was reopened by 4:20 p.m.