Castle Kashan on the hill above Malibu's civic center complex near California Highway 1 (Coast Highway) stood as a beacon. It was destroyed in a fire possibly sparked by a downed power line and fanned by Santa Ana (devil) winds that occur each year in Southern California.

Castle Kashan is one of several structures destroyed by the uncontrollable flames of a fire that began early in the morning in Malibu.  "It looks like it got bombed," said one resident about the fire that burned its way to the beach on Sunday, October 21. A church, castle, and several homes were destroyed in one of several fires in Southern California, predictably fanned by the Santa Ana winds that began blowing. Each time the winds occur, Malibu canyon residents worry about fires.

Castle owner Princess Lilly Lawrence of Iran was not available for comment when the house burned down, though she was not in the castle as it burned and is OK. Using the house often for charitable events, this spectacular mansion and a Presbyterian church near Pepperdine University were both destroyed.

According to one submission, the castle was originally known as “Hodge Castle”, built by family practitioner Dr Tom Hodges in the 1970s. Dr Hodges was a Korean War Army Doctor, who had a family practice clinic in Malibu up until his retirement in the early 1980s. The castle has been featured on a few TV shows, including the Rockford Files.

5 residences, 2 commercial buildings and a church have been destroyed. Agoura High School opened as a shelter, and Malibu High School opened its doors as an information center. Topanga Canyon evacuation was issued at of 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007.