‘Lake fire’ in California prompts evacuations and threatens Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Firefighters manning the entrance to the late pop star Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, California.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LOS ANGELES – A wildfire that erupted in the mountains of Santa Barbara County in Southern California has burned more than 6,500ha, prompting an evacuation order and threatening ranches, including Michael Jackson’s former Neverland Ranch, the authorities said.
The fire, called the Lake fire, broke out shortly before 4pm on July 5 near Zaca Lake, just north-east of the city of Los Olivos, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The cause of the fire, which was zero per cent contained as at July 7, remained under investigation.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued an evacuation order for an area near the Los Padres National Forest that includes the property once known as Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, a 1,000ha property in Los Olivos, California.
About 100 residents were affected by the evacuation order, said Mr Kenichi Haskett, a public information officer for Cal Fire. No structural damage, injuries or fatalities have been reported so far.
Winds were blowing the blaze south-east. The former Neverland Ranch and other ranches were in immediate danger, Mr Haskett said.
Jackson bought the ranch for about US$17 million (S$23 million) in 1988 and transformed it into a private entertainment complex, complete with a zoo, a train and an amusement park that included a Ferris wheel and a 50-seat theatre.
He named it Neverland Ranch after the mythical island home of Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up.
Before his death in 2009, he faced several allegations that he molested young boys, with some of his accusers alleging that they were abused at Neverland. After a 2005 trial that acquitted him, Jackson never returned to live at his ranch.
The amusement park rides were later removed and the property was rebranded the Sycamore Valley Ranch. It was sold in 2020 for US$22 million
Mr Scott Safechuck, a public information officer with Santa Barbara County Fire Department, said on social media that temperatures in the area reached more than 30 deg C over the weekend and that relative humidity levels were low.
More than 750 firefighters from the US Forest Service and Santa Barbara County Fire Department have been assigned to the fire, the US Forest Service said. Aerial support included 10 air tankers and three helicopters, Mr Safechuck said.
A combustible mix of low relative humidity levels, gusty winds and scorching temperatures helped the Lake fire swell to 6,600ha by July 7.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Evacuation warnings were in place north of Zaca Lake Road, east of Foxen Canyon Road and South of the Sisquoc River, according to Inciweb, the national incident information system for wildfires and all-hazard incidents.
Late on July 7, the sheriff’s office issued additional evacuation warnings to include areas north of Calzada Avenue, east of East Oak Trail Road, west of Happy Canyon, and south of the Sisquoc River.
The fire was first reported at 3.45pm, according to the US Forest Service. A combustible mix of low relative humidity levels, gusty winds and scorching temperatures helped the fire swell to 1,600ha by 11pm, the agency said. By July 7, the blaze had ripped through at least 6,600ha. NYTIMES
