Franklin fire in Malibu only 7% contained but weather could aid crews fighting 4,000-acre blaze: Live
Roughly 20,000 face evacuations in Malibu, including some celebrities, as fire continues to rage near Los Angeles
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Your support makes all the difference.A fast-moving wildfire has scorched 4,000 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 nine damaged.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Meteorologists warned that even though the strongest winds in the area have passed, high fire dangers have decreased. That should aid efforts to contain the fire.
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," 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.
Malibu resident says Franklin Fire hit area ‘hard’
A Malibu resident is recalling the moment he thought the Franklin Fire might not be a “big deal.”
“I was going back to check on their homes and I was actually thinking that it was going to be no big deal,” Malibu resident Fred Roberts told Reuters.
“But, after I’ve seen this one and that one there burnt, I know this is the real deal,” he said. “And it did hit here hard.”
Malibu restaurant owner recalls scary moment during Franklin Fire
A restaurant owner is speaking out after the Franklin Fire came without a quarter mile of his business early Wednesday.
Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from reaching Malibu Seafood Fresh Market and Patio Cafe.
“That still was a bit too close for comfort,” John Christensen told USA TODAY.
“This place is like a cat, it has nine lives, and is still here,” Christensen said, referring to his restaurant. “We love it here.”
Dick Van Dyke faces tragic loss amid Malibu wildfire evacuations: ‘We’re praying’
Dick Van Dyke faces tragic loss amid Malibu wildfire evacuations
Van Dyke confirmed he and his wife had ‘safely evacuated’ — but not without facing heartbreak
Malibu resident speaks out after his home is destroyed in the Franklin Fire
A Malibu resident is speaking out after his home was destroyed in the Franklin Fire.
“It’s pretty torched all around,” Lonnie Vidaurri, 53, told The Associated Press.
His four-bedroom home was located in the Malibu Knolls neighborhood and was one of seven that had been destroyed.
Vidaurri, his wife, and two young daughters evacuated to a hotel in Santa Monica.
He expects that the family’s pet bunnies did not survive the fire, and that they lost most of their things.
“My girls cried, obviously, but it could have been worse.”
Pepperdine University shares video of wooden cross still standing on hills above campus
The 20-foot-tall wooden cross had previously been destroyed by the 2018 Woolsey Fire.
It was later replaced by brothers of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
They carried the cross in pieces up the hill in honor of Seaver College student Alaina Housley, who was killed in the shooting at the Thousand Oaks-based Borderline Bar and Grill.
Red flag warning expires on the Malibu coast
A red flag warning that was scheduled to extend into Wednesday afternoon has been canceled.
Winds decreased earlier than expected, according to KTLA.
Other red flag warnings that were scheduled to expire Wednesday evening also were canceled.
Malibu resident recalls fire moving toward RV park
A Malibu man is recalling the moment the Franklin Fire approached the city’s RV park.
“You could see the fires rolling in, in over the canyon. It was like ‘Holy crap, this is real,’ ” Shawn Smith told The Associated Press.
Smith was asleep when someone knocked on his mobile home to wake him up.
A day, later, he returned to find that the RV park had been saved by firefighters.
“We got lucky,” he said.
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