Fires destroy coastal homes 

By Heather McRea

This week in Coast Lines: From the ocean to the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County is seeing destructive fires, with some of the worst destruction in the Pacific Palisades.

Plus, more options for glamping with the Pacific Ocean as your view and more education and research opportunities will be allowed in coastal protected areas.

Here’s what’s happening along the Southern California coast.

Wind-fueled fires

High winds have fueled destructive fires across Los Angeles County, with many homes and businesses destroyed by the Palisades fire.

The wind threat is expected to continue and firefighters are waging battle with the flames that have torn through neighborhoods of the Pacific Palisades, Malibu

and elsewhere.

“There are a ton of people who have been there for generations whose families have had homes there, and I’m not talking about mansions,” said Malibu resident Elle Johnson, who lives on Malibu Road, down from the PCH. “I’m talking about just kind of blue-collar, working-class people, farmers and just other people living off the land who really love it there and love the nature.”

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Glamping choices

Glamping offers camping but with more of the creature comforts of home. More options are popping up at State Parks, including the piloting of a new elevated camping experience at San Mateo State Park just south of San Clemente.

The latest addition to the outdoor adventure landscape is in the form of canvas bell tents, large enough to hold several cozy beds, set up and ready for campers to get their adventure started right away. 

We’ve got what you need to know to score a glamping spot there and elsewhere.

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Ocean laboratories

Marine science researchers and educators in Southern California are celebrating a decision by the California Fish and Game Commission to allow more access to some coastal Marine Protected Areas.

A recent review of how the protected areas were recovering after their first decade showed progress, officials reported, with marine life teeming. And that is why researchers wanted more access to the protected parts of the coastline.

“We were looking at these areas for restoration projects,” said Ray Hiemstra, associate director of policy and projects for the nonprofit Orange County Coastkeeper, which petitioned for access to the MPA sites off Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Dana Point. “This now opens them up for projects like eelgrass and oyster restoration.”

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What else?

President Biden has issued a ban on offshore oil and gas drilling that includes Southern California, prompting reaction. 
Read the story.

Long Beach’s Sublime, Alanis Morissette and Lenny Kravitz to headline 2025 BeachLife Festival.

Read the story.

What are your New Year’s goals? Here are some bucket-list ideas, including plenty at the shore.

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In the water

Hundreds welcomed 2025 with a splash in the frigid Pacific during the annual Polar Bear Swim in San Pedro. The tradition goes back more than 70 years and includes the ceremonial crowning of the Polar Bear king and queen. 

Read the story.

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