Malibu Residents Begin To Return

MALIBU, Calif. — Residents began making their way through back streets and dirt roads yesterday afternoon into evacuated areas of this upscale community to see whether their homes survived a wind-driven wildfire that scorched surrounding brush-covered hills. Some homes along a road near the source of the blaze had been reduced to blackened wrecks, while others were barely damaged.

Fifty homes were destroyed Saturday by the fast-moving wildfire, pushed by Santa Ana winds. Twenty-seven other homes were damaged, and 10,000 to 14,000 people remained under evacuation orders.

The fire, which scorched 4,720 acres — more than 7 square miles — since early Saturday, was about 40% contained, with few flames visible to water-dropping helicopters, the Los Angeles County fire inspector, Ron Haralson, said.