Fire at Jackson's fantasy ranch in California

LOS ANGELES: A brush fire charred 16 hectares (40 acres) of land at singer Michael Jackson's fantasy Neverland ranch in California, but no one was injured, firefighters said on Saturday.           

"The fire is fully contained at 40 acres" on the nearly 2,500-acre ranch, said Captain Keith Cullom, a Santa Barbara County fire department spokesman.        

On Friday, the blaze was within 800 metres of the main residence, but there were no injuries and Jackson's menagerie of animals was also unhurt. The spokesman said about 100 firefighters were on the ranch battling the blaze.              

Jackson briefly moved to Bahrain following a 2005 trial on child sex charges. He was acquitted.   

The singer has since announced plans to write a new album and move to Europe as part of a broader bid to revive his career.