The blaze started at a mobile home next door and quickly spread into a brush fire at nearby Malibu Creek State Park.
"There was an explosion and that tree was completely engulfed in flames. The pines are dry and it was horrible and then this house caught on fire, which was a shame. It was the three houses on the west side," said a Malibu resident.
Dozens of 4th of July campers were quickly evacuated from the park Friday afternoon as crews battled the 20 acre blaze from the ground and from the air.
Their aggressive attack soon paid off by Friday evening it was nearly put out.
"We were very fortunate that there was not a wind factor here. Wind factor fires burn real quick, real fast and hot," said Los Angeles County fire Inspector Sam Padilla.
One community still battling a wildfire is Goleta where a massive flame has burned about 6600 acres.
Four thousand people have been evacuated and those still in town are trying to protect themselves from the smoke.
"It's been really bad, last night the ashes made it so you could hardly breath. The sky has been horrible," said Goleta resident Gabby Altarch.
After burning for almost three days authorities say that they are finally getting a handle on the fire. Friday night the big concern was the weather and the wind.
Firefighters were able to put out the Malibu fire quickly, but two families are now without homes.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
