MALIBU, CA — Full containment was expected Monday for the 146-acre Bryson Fire in Malibu, which was 83% contained by lines of cleared vegetation at last report.
Low temperatures and relatively low winds were forecast overnight to give crews a chance to focus on hot spots identified through infrared flights.
All evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, when a red flag warning expired and authorities reopened roads, including Topanga Canyon Boulevard.
Residents in two zones were still told to remain alert and be prepared to evacuate if conditions change, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The fire broke out shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday near Campus Vernon Kilpatrick on Encinal Canyon Road west of Mulholland Highway, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Friday morning that no structures had been damaged or destroyed, although 7,221 structures remained threatened as of Friday evening. In Saturday evening's update, county officials reported no structures lost or damaged and only minor injuries to fire personnel.
The cause of the blaze remained unclear. It erupted amid gusting Santa Ana winds.
There were 715 people assigned to the fire as of Saturday night, along with 60 engines, according to Cal Fire. By Sunday morning that number had been reduced to 200, and was at 58 people by Monday morning.
As the fire grew Thursday, incident commanders issued a second alarm, summoning additional crews. Water- and retardant-dropping helicopters and fixed- wing aircraft were dispatched to battle the fire, which burned in largely inaccessible terrain.
Evacuation warnings had been issued for a large area stretching from near Malibu Road and Pacific Coast Highway to Leo Carrillo State Beach. An evacuation order was subsequently issued in the more immediate area, including Zuma and Trancas canyons.
Many residents in the area had been without power due to Southern California Edison's precautionary Public Safety Power Shutoff program, designed to cut electricity to lines that could be damaged by high winds and spark brush fires. County officials announced Saturday evening that planned power shutoffs were being canceled and utilities were working to restore service to locations where electricity had been interrupted Friday.
SCE said Sunday that all customers who were without electricity due to Public Safety Power Shutoffs over the past few days had been re-energized.
City News Service
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