Brush Fires Near Thousand Oaks, Malibu Battled
A 25-acre brush fire that investigators believe was set by an arsonist erupted on a rugged hillside near Westlake High School near Thousand Oaks on Sunday evening, but was contained after it stalled, a Ventura County fire spokeswoman said.
A second fire a few miles away--in Decker Canyon in the Malibu area--began about 20 minutes after the first blaze, leading investigators to think they were connected, said spokeswoman Vicki Sosa.
That two-acre blaze was put out in 35 minutes, officials said.
Authorities said a witness saw a two-tone white van driving off just before the first blaze erupted. Calm weather helped crews encircle the fire within 2 1/2 hours, keeping it from moving toward the nearby gated North Ranch Country Club.
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