News

Wildfire Scorches Neverland Ranch

Police are investigating the cause of a wildfire that scorched 40 acres of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch, coming within a quarter-mile of the ranch's amusement park structures before it was contained by a crew of 100 firefighters. Jacko, of course, was not on the ranch at the time, and has not set foot there since he relocated to Bahrain last summer after being acquitted of child molestation charges.

The fire was one of many that have scorched southern California forests and open spaces this summer, but police have not ruled out the possibility that the fire was deliberately or accidently set by people rather than by Mother Nature.

Santa Barbara County Fire Department officials report that no people, animals or structures were harmed by the blaze. The ranch is largely unoccupied, though Jackson has kept his extensive collection of exotic animals on the premises.

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
08.28.06