Fires in Malibu are an ancient phenomenon, part of a natural cycle of vegetation growth, drought, and fire -The Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon corridor provides a fertile playground for wildfires, with its steep walls and high-velocity winds. The growing population north of the canyon creates many opportunities for accidental triggers or arson to start a major fire.

During the fall and early winter months, strong Santa Ana winds take regular trips through Malibu and out to the ocean. As the Santa Ana winds blow through, evaporating whatever moisture is left in the chaparral after the long dry summer, relative humidity can drop below 10 percent. Once a fire starts, it is nearly impossible to contain, until the Santa Ana winds die down. Malibu has a history of wildfires which "historically follow well-defined wildfire corridors. When large and damaging fires occur you'll find the wind and fire corridors perfectly aligned."  This makes it even more difficult to fight a fire.

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 24, 2007), fifty to seventy mph Santa Ana winds blew ultra-low humidity air through the hills of Malibu. Fire broke out in the darkness of 3:30 AM and soon homes along Corral Canyon Road and the brush of nearby hills were ablaze.

The Corral Fire destroyed 53 homes, damaged 35, and burned over 4,720 acres (19.1 km²), forcing as many as 14,000 people to evacuate. Damages from the fire were expected to reach more than $100 million.