Joann Groff
News Editor
Ben Young / Photo Editor
After scooping up water from the Pacific Ocean and flying over Pepperdine, a SuperScooper plane assists in the effort to put out a small fire near Cottontail Ranch on Las Virgines Road.
Fire season has begun.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department was dispatched at 1 p.m. yesterday to a fire near Cottontail Ranch in Malibu, located through Malibu Canyon on Las Virgenes Road.
Officials at L.A.F.D. said the fire was contained by 2 p.m.
The six-acre brush fire began in one structure at 1924 Las Virgenes Road and caused a nearby hill to catch on fire.
The Pepperdine Fire Department joined the L.A.F.D. to fight the blaze, adding to an effort that included more than 10 fire department vehicles, several fire engines and ambulances, two SuperScooper aircrafts and helicopters.
“You could tell everyone was really concerned about what was going on,” said senior Lindsey Baguio. “It was hard to see what was going on. I was just driving home from running some errands, and I saw smoke way high up in the air – it looked like something huge.”
Cottontail Ranch is a popular retreat spot for the University Church of Christ, sororities and other groups on campus.
The National Weather Service had issued warnings of extremely low humidity, a contributor to brush fires that are common around this time.
09-23-2004