Another bout of blazes in Calif. // Hundreds frantically abandon hills

  Sandra Sanchez; Jonathan T. Lovitt

  11/03/1993

  USA Today

  FINAL

  Page 03A

  (Copyright 1993)

  MALIBU, Calif. - As these lush hills erupted Tuesday into a seemingly endless

  wall of flames that charged to the sea, southern Californians took cover wherever

  they could.

  Hundreds of fire-battered residents took refuge on sandy beaches and along

  stretches of scenic roads under the menacing glow of fire.

  Others crowded restaurants.

  Shelters were jammed.

  Hotels were booked.

  Businesses that still were open became rendezvous points for lost loved ones.

  "The beach houses were in flames, and there were people that moved closer and

  closer to the water," said Malibu resident Glenn Carns, whose home was

  destroyed. "We moved away from the smoke because we couldn't breathe."

  Sheriff's deputies and firefighters used bullhorns to coax people from homes.

  Jane Davis could not find her husband and son. She was supposed to meet them

  at the La Costa Beach Club. When she got there, it was burning.

  She ended up at Gladstone's, a popular seafood joint at the spot where Sunset

  Boulevard meets the sea.

  "They were at the house when I left," said Davis, fighting back tears. "Everybody

  who came down from our area said everything is gone. So I'm assuming the

  worst."

  Mary Cossette, 52, walked 5 miles in stocking feet to try to reach her home. She

  was turned away by police.

  "I got almost a quarter of a mile from my house and they made me turn back,"

  she said.

  Cars with mattresses and surfboards on top clogged roads, hampering rescues.

  Schoolteacher Joanne Gary, 44, tried to get to her Calabasas home but was

  stopped.

  "I'm most upset that all the people like me who were trying to get home were

  impeding the firefighters."

  Contributing: Haya El Nasser