Thousands told to flee as raging wildfire tears through California’s Malibu

A ferocious fire tore through Malibu, California, on Tuesday, destroying homes and forcing thousands to evacuate one of the most sought-after areas in the United States.

Multimillion-dollar properties, some owned by Hollywood celebrities, were in the path of the blaze, which exploded overnight, fanned by powerful winds and tinder-dry brush.

Firefighters were struggling to get a foothold in the steep canyons that surround the tony enclave just outside Los Angeles, where towering flames were devouring hillsides, blanketing the air in choking smoke.