 Brought to you by Penguin Malibu rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid read for you by Julia Whalen Malibu catches fire It is simply what Malibu does from time to time Tornadoes take the flatlands of the Midwest floods rise in the American South Hurricanes rage against the Gulf of Mexico and California burns The land caught fire time and again when it was inhabited by the Chumash in 500 BCE It caught fire in the 1800s when Spanish colonizers claimed the area. It caught fire on December 4th 1903 when Frederick and May Ringe owned the stretch of land now called Malibu The flames seized 30 miles of coast land and consumed their Victorian beach house Malibu caught fire in 1917 and 1929 well after the first movie stars got there it caught fire in 1956 and 1958 when the long borders and beach bunnies trickled to its shores it caught fire in 1970 and 1978 after the hippies settled in its canyons it caught fire in 1982 1985 in 1993 1996 in 2003 2007 and 2018 and times in between Because it is Malibu's nature to burn At the city line of Malibu today stands a sign that reads Malibu 27 miles of scenic beauty The long thin township an area that hugs the slim coast for almost 30 miles is made up of ocean and mountain Split by a two-lane throughway called the Pacific Coast Highway or PCH To the west of PCH is a long series of beaches cradling the crystal blue waves of the Pacific Ocean In many areas along the coast Beach houses are crammed along the side of the highway competing for views narrow and tall The coastline is jagged and rocky the waves are brisk and clear the air smells of fresh brine Directly to the east of PCH lie the immense arid mountains They dominate the skyline sage green and umber composed of desert shrubs and wild trees brittle underbrush This is dry land a tinder box blessed and cursed with a breeze The local Santa Ana winds speed through the mountains and valleys from the inland to the shore hot and strong Myth says they are agents of chaos and disorder, but what they really are is an accelerant a Tiny spark in the dry desert wood can grow to a blaze and run wild burning bright orange and red It devours the land and exhales thick black smoke that overtakes the sky dimming the Sun from miles ash falling like snow Habitats brush and shrubs and trees and homes cabins and mansions and bungalows Ranchers and vineyards and farms go up in smoke and leave behind a scorched earth But that land is young once again ready to grow something new Destruction and renewal rising from the ashes the story of fire The Malibu fire of 1983 started not in the dry Hills, but on the coastline It began at 28 150 cliffside drive on Saturday August 27th at the home of Nina Riva during one of the most notorious parties in Los Angeles history The annual party grew wildly out of control sometime around midnight By 7 a.m. The coastline of Malibu was engulfed in flames Because just as it is in Malibu's nature to burn So was it in one particular person's nature to set fire and walk away Saturday August 27th 1983 part one 7 a.m. To 7 p.m. 7 a.m. Nina Riva woke up without even opening her eyes Sample complete ready to continue