MALIBU, Calif. — The tally of structures destroyed by the huge wildfire that swept through Southern California communities increased to 1,500 on Monday, fire officials said.
With 95 percent of the burn assessment completed, the count also showed 341 structures damaged.
The fire erupted Nov. 8 and powerful Santa Ana winds pushed it through suburbs and wilderness parkland in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, forcing thousands of people to flee.
Three people were found dead in the aftermath. They remained unidentified.
The final major flare-ups occurred last week on the western end of the fire in the Santa Monica Mountains. Since then, firefighters have been mopping up and patrolling the 151-square-mile burn area.
Containment lines were complete around 94 percent of the fire zone and full containment was expected by Thanksgiving.
