The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the fire at about 4:10 p.m. Capt. Keith Mora stated the initial call was for a car crash into a power pole with power lines down. Firefighters in the field reported seeing power lines down also.
Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said a black truck struck a pole in the 2300 block of Mulholland Highway. Witnesses told investigators the truck was speeding before it hit the power pole, knocking it over and causing a transformer to explode, sparking the fire.
Officials said 5,000 people were evacuated from 3,000 homes. Air7HD captured flames touching some buildings.
#LIVE: Fire threatens preschool in Calabasas https://t.co/u5lTveArpyhttps://t.co/XFPiqOCzV0
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 5, 2016
#LIVE: Brush fire in Calabasas threatens several homes https://t.co/u5lTveArpyhttps://t.co/AEcf4soZE3
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) June 5, 2016
Fire officials stated Camp Wildcraft, a new campground set to open for the first time on June 13, appeared to be a complete loss.
Shari Davis of Camp Wildcraft said while the camp portion may be heavily damaged, the oldest home in Calabasas, the Masson Residence, was saved by firefighters.
The fire caused evacuations in Calabasas Highlands, Eddingham and Adamsville neighborhoods, officials said. If evacuated, authorities urged residents to head to Agoura High School located at 28545 W Driver Avenue in Agoura Hills.
The Los Angeles Region American Red Cross responded to Agoura High School to provide evacuated residents with information, food, water, and emotional support.
The City of Calabasas stated horses and large animals were to be evacuated to Pierce College, while small animals, like dogs and cats, were to be evacuated to the Agoura Animal Shelter.
The California Highway Patrol announced that Topanga Canyon Boulevard between the Pacific Coast Highway and Cezanne Avenue would be closed until further notice.
Ashes from the fire were reported in North Hollywood and Burbank, and even as far as Arcadia.
Ash from #CalabasasFire reaches Arcadia High School more than 40 miles away. #OldFire #abc7eyewitness #MyDayInLA pic.twitter.com/dgtlD3LAsu
— Ryan Foran (@RyanPForan) June 5, 2016
ABC7 viewers reported seeing smoke from miles away.
View of fire from Calabasas High Baseball field. @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/CWp736VZfU
— Marlene Luterman (@MrsLutee) June 5, 2016
Old Topanga fire. #abc7eyewitness pic.twitter.com/t1vtEmeeOx
— Alexis C. Jolly (@AlexisCJolly) June 5, 2016
View of Calabasas brush fire from the hills of Simi Valley. #abc7eyewitness @ABC7 pic.twitter.com/DfC5M3hWVd
— Ryan (@Ryan63741965) June 5, 2016
Can see the fire in Agoura @ABC7 #abc7eyewitness pic.twitter.com/GUmUecOfhV
— Taylor Burns (@Taylor_Burns21) June 4, 2016
Wildfire at #calabasashigh #wilfires #abc7eyewitness #news pic.twitter.com/a4hdH6lPTF
— Brett Durrant (@brettdurrant) June 5, 2016
View from my moms -The whole neighborhood is evacuating #calabasas #fire @NewsSourceLA #abc7eyewitness pic.twitter.com/KXE7Cmj70h
— Dana Workman (@DanaWorkman) June 5, 2016
DEVELOPING: We will add more details to this report as they become available.