Calabasas fire destroys a commercial building and a summer camp

A commercial building and a campsite off Mulholland Highway were ravaged over the weekend in the fire that burned more than 500 acres of Calabasas hills.

The two structures were destroyed by the natural disaster dubbed the Old Fire. One other house was damaged, officials told the CBS Local, but not wrecked. A bridge that lead up to the camp site was also damaged.

The rapidly spreading fire forced thousands of residents who live in the Topanga Canyon area around Calabasas to evacuate their homes. As of Sunday afternoon, the fire was 80 percent contained. Most were able to return then.

Camp Wildcraft on Old Topanga Road was a brand new summer day camp for children. As part of the Mountains Restoration Trust owned by the City of Calabasas, the camp was slated to host 50 children next week.

“This was the first camp we were starting and everything was going so well with so much excitement and enthusiasm,” camp operator Shari Davis told the L.A. Times. “We need to figure out a way to move ahead.”

The identity of the commercial building, the other structural casualty of the fire, remains unclear.

Officials said the fire began as three different blazes, one of which was alleged started when a pickup truck hit a power pole along Mulholland Highway. Years of drought made vegetation and brush dry and highly susceptible to fire. [CBS Local] [LAT] — Cathaleen Chen