Wildfire burns 250 acres above Mailbu

MALIBU, Calif. -- Residents were ordered to evacuate their homes early Saturday ahead of a wildfire that scorched about 250 acres in the hills above Malibu as the dry Santa Ana wind returned to Southern California.

The blaze began shortly before 2:30 a.m. near Malibu Lake on state park land, said Los Angeles County fire Capt. Mike Brown.

About 100 homes in three communities were evacuated, Brown said. Flames had reached some of the homes but there were no immediate reports of damage.

"It's on the backyards of some of these homes, from my understanding," Brown said.

TV images showed a line of flames running along the canyon as plumes of smoke filled the early morning sky.

The blaze was blowing downhill toward the Pacific Ocean. No injuries were reported. About 200 firefighters were on scene and the cause of the fire was being investigated.

Hundreds of firefighters were placed on watch this weekend as Santa Ana wind returned to Southern California. Gusts up to 60 mph were reported in some mountain passes overnight.