Malibu hires private security for wildfire zones as coastal highway reopens

California city's council to provide 24/7 armed patrol for lots and vacant homes devastated by blazes

Nearly five months after wildfires tore through Los Angeles, killing dozens of people and destroying thousands of homes, the city of Malibu has hired private security to protect burned lots and vacant homes after the disaster.

The city council voted last week to contract with a private security firm to provide 24/7 armed patrols in areas affected by the recent fires as a section of the Pacific Coast Highway reopens for the first time since the fire.