Malibu wildfire forces mass celebrity evacuations (UPDATE)

By Karyn Chenoweth Oct 21, 2007, 18:55 GMT

James Cameron - © Glenn Harris / Photorazzi

Calabasas, CA - Director and producer James Cameron and actress/singer Olivia Newton-John have been evacuated according to local news here in Los Angeles, and there are many homes in the Malibu area which are imminent danger.

ABC 7 reports that numerous homes along Pacific Coast Highway have been evacuated.

TMZ.com reports that Malibu County and Carbon Beach residents include: Jennifer Aniston, Sting, Bill Murray, Kurt Russell, Goldie Hawn, Tatum O'Neal, Rob Reiner, Linda Ronstadt, David Arquette and Courteney Cox, David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Mark Burnett, Bob Dylan, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson among the many celebrity inhabitants.

The fire is believed to have started around 5 AM when live power lines were downed by hurricane strength Santa Ana winds, which ignited dry brush.

California suffered a very dry past year, with record droughts that left the hillsides vulnerable to brushfires.

Over 1000 acres and numerous structures have already burned. More than 500 firefighters from all over the area are fighting the flames -- still being fanned by gusting winds.

Local NBC affiliate

The affected area is north of the Pacific Coast Highway, and only a mile west of Pepperdine University. The fire has jumped the now-closed PCH.

Celebrities who live in the area include Britney Spears, Jane Seymour and Olivia Newton-John.

No word yet on whether they have been affected.

ABC News 7 reported that flames engulfed Malibu Presbyterian Church, which had been evacuated, said youth pastor Eric Smith. "That's the really good news, that everyone's out and safe," Smith said.

Palm trees bent in half and embers were carried through the air as wind gusted to 60 to 65 mph. Thick smoke obscured the sun.

ABC 7 reported that resident Susan Nuttall sat in her black Mercedes in a cul-de-sac just off the Pacific Coast Highway, saying she had fled her condo just below the Pepperdine campus.

"We're all scared to death and we have nowhere to go," said Nuttall, 51, still wearing a bathrobe and holding her chihuahua.

Mitra Rajabi came to get her 80-year-old mother from her home near Pepperdine.

"We've been through this before, but it's never been this bad," said Rajabi, 39, of Pacific Palisades. "It was like a war zone."

A landmark hillside home known as the "Malibu Castle," owned by socialite philanthropist Lilly Lawrence, burned to the ground.

Famed director James Cameron has been evacuated from his Malibu home.
TMZ also confirmed that Olivia Newton-John's home is being threatened by the fire and that she and her family have been evacuated.