Mass Evacuation Ordered as Wildfire Threatens Homes in SoCal

“Old Fire” consumes 500 acres, threatens 1,200+ residences in Calabasas, LA County

The fast moving wildfire broke out Saturday afternoon and rapidly burned about 500 acres in and around Calabasas neighborhoods prompting the authorities to order at least 5,000 people to abandon their homes.

The fire was fulled by strong winds, low relative humidity and 100-degree (F) temperatures.

The fire was apparently sparked when a pickup truck struck a power pole on Mulholland Highway in Calabasas, according to Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

“Witnesses reported that the truck was traveling at a high rate of speed before colliding into a power pole, causing the pole to fall and a transformer to explode, thus igniting the Calabasas fire.”