Franklin fire in Malibu explodes over 3,000 acres as Dick Van Dyke and Cher evacuated from their homes: Live
A red flag fire weather warning is in place in Malibu as 20,000 residents forced to flee
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Your support makes all the difference.A fast-moving wildfire has scorched over 3,000 acres in Malibu, forcing 20,000 residents to flee as flames advanced on homes, horse farms, and Pepperdine University.
The Franklin Fire, yet another late-year wildfire fanned by fierce Santa Ana winds, has left a trail of destruction as officials confirmed seven structures destroyed and eight damaged.
Evacuations have displaced thousands of residents, including celebrities such as Dick Van Dyke and Cher.
Malibu mayor Doug Stewart called it a “traumatic 20 hours” for the city, as emergency operations relocated to Calabasas after the city hall was threatened.
"It burns, it grows back, and we're resilient," Mr Stewart said.
More than 1,500 firefighters are battling the blaze with many roads closed and others under security patrols.
At Pepperdine University, 3,000 students sheltered in place as smoke and embers engulfed the campus. “Ash was everywhere, embers were everywhere,” said a student, Bethany Kronlund.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Meteorologists warned that even though the strongest winds have passed the danger remained on Wednesday, especially in the hilly areas.
The evacuation center for the Franklin Fire is moving
The evacuation center for the Franklin fire is moving, KABC-TV reported Tuesday afternoon.
Officials from the American Red Cross reportedly told the station that the center will be at the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Professional Development & Learning Center building.
The original location was the Palisade Recreation Center.
Photos show continued response to Franklin Fire
Some highway traffic signals are out due to heavy winds and power outages
Newsom acknowledges wildfire season is ‘year-round’ in California
There are 866 personnel working on the Franklin Fire, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference.
The Democratic leader said the brush fire proved that fire season is not a season in the state.
“It’s year-round in the state of California ... We’re in the middle of December and yet we’re experiencing yet another wildfire in southern California,” he said.
This year, more than 7,900 fires have burned over a million acres across California.
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