Flames Hit Star-Studded Malibu Enclave

Firefighters watched for flareups Tuesday in an exclusive seaside neighborhood after a fast-moving wildfire swept through multimillion-dollar homes, destroying four and a guest house. Actress Suzanne Somers' home was one of four destroyed.

Four other houses were significantly damaged by the wind-driven fire Monday, and one resident who was not identified was hospitalized because of smoke inhalation.

Properties were still smoldering early Tuesday and about 150 firefighters and arson investigators were on the scene.

"Right now we cannot speculate about how this happened," Inspector Rick Dominguez said early Tuesday.

CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reported that it took only minutes for the multimillion dollar homes to be engulfed by flames fed by wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour and low humidity.

Even firefighters couldn't believe how quickly the flames spread. "When I first arrived on the scene I was totally amazed by the wind," Los Angeles County Fire Dept. Captain Mike Brown told Whitaker.

The blaze was fanned by Santa Ana wind as it raced through the celebrity enclave near Pepperdine University. "Red flag" fire danger warnings posted by the National Weather Service remained in effect for much of Southern California because of the strong wind and low humidity.

"Anything that was down there that could burn, did burn," said County Fire Chief Michael Freeman.

Malibu Mayor Ken Kearsley told CBS's The Early Show that the fire had grown too intense before fire engines could get to the scene, leaving no hope for four oceanfront home engulfed by flames: "Not a prayer in the world."

Within 20 minutes after the fire started, the only safe escape route was Malibu Road, better known as the old Pacific Coast Highway.

"We told everybody to get out," Kearsley told the Los Angeles Times. "People were getting out as fast as possible."

Fire officials didn't release the names of property owners who lost homes, but actress Victoria Principal was among those who rushed out to hose down their houses after the fire was reported about 5 p.m. Monday.

Her publicist, Alan Nierob, said her home wasn't damaged. "She covered her house with water," he said.

Victoria Pinero, co-owner of Little Angels Pet Services, which takes care of dogs and other animals, was housesitting at one of the homes destroyed in the blaze. She said she wasn't home at the time the fire erupted, but rushed back to save the owners' four dogs.

She said she found two dogs, but "we are still looking for the last two dogs. ... We did everything we could," she said, crying. "For these people, the dogs were basically their children."

The blaze burned near the Malibu Colony, one of the area's original beachfront neighborhoods, dating to the 1930s. The densely built stretch of luxury homes has been a favorite of celebrities over the years.

Residents of Malibu include Mel Gibson, Pierce Brosnan, Pamela Anderson, Barbra Streisand, Ted Danson, David Geffen, and Courteney Cox-Arquette.

Malibu has frequently been the scene of devastating fires. In 1993, hundreds of homes were lost and three people were killed. A 1996 fire injured 11 people and destroyed six homes.