Monday, 26 November 2007, 12:59 GMT
Fire wrecks Chili Pepper's home

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea has lost his multi-million pound house to the wildfire that swept through Malibu over the weekend.

His house was one of 53 destroyed by the blaze which swept through the beachside community on Saturday.

Flea, real name Michael Balzary, told the Los Angeles Times the $4.8m (£2.3m) property was "burnt to a crisp".

However he has another home in the area which was purchased last year for $10m (£4.8m), the paper reported.

The house which burnt down had been on sale.

An estate agent listing described the property as a "private 2.4 acre compound" with four bedrooms, ocean views, a pool and spa, as well as "alcoves and pathways throughout the grounds".

An estimated 14,000 people fled the flames on Saturday, returning the following day after firefighters brought the blaze under control.

Los Angeles fire chiefs believe the fire will be fully contained by Tuesday.

More than seven square miles (18 square kilometres) were scorched. Investigators believe the fire was started by people, calling its origins suspicious in nature.

Malibu, with homes tucked into deep and narrow canyons along 27 miles of coast at the southern foot of the Santa Monica Mountains, is prone to wildfires driven by the Santa-Ana winds.

A separate fire last month destroyed more than 1,500 homes and killed at least a dozen people.