RANCHO PALOS VERDES : Brush Fire Forces 150 Residents to Flee Homes

Several expensive homes in Rancho Palos Verdes were threatened early Monday when a brush fire scorched nearly 100 acres of hillside, forcing nearly 150 residents to evacuate their houses for several hours.

More than 350 firefighters were called in to battle the blaze, which broke out shortly before 8:30 p.m. Sunday on a hill near Cartier Drive, officials said. The fire blackened five acres before firefighters began hosing down homes and evacuating residents.

“The problem with the fire was that the area is very hard to get to,” said Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Devin Trone. “We tried to get as many people out there as possible.”

Firefighters using 50 engines and three water-dropping helicopters fought the wind-fed flames for hours. At one point, the fire came within 20 feet of some million-dollar homes near the former Marineland site, according to fire officials.

By noon Monday, firefighters had the fire 90% contained, Trone said. Late Monday night, crews were still monitoring the area for sparks, and the cause was under investigation.