Malibu fires live: Franklin wildfire burns 4,000 acres; officials warn it will take ‘number of days’ to contain
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 more than 4,000 acres in Malibu, forcing 20,000 residents to flee as flames race towards homes, horse farms and Pepperdine University.
The Franklin Fire, 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. Fire officials say it will take a “number of days” to put out the blaze, according to NBC Los Angeles. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The strongest winds in the area have passed, and meteorologists said high fire dangers have decreased, which should aid efforts to contain the fire. Evacuations have displaced thousands of residents, including celebrities 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. He said: “It burns, it grows back, and we're resilient.”
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.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors chair assures progress is being made
Power outages in California continue to fall
Fewer than 50,000 California customers were without power on Wednesday, according to tracker PowerOutage.US.
That tally had exceeded 60,000 on Tuesday.
Malibu resident says fireproofing helped protect her home
Fireproofing steps helped to protect a Malibu resident’s home from the Franklin Fire.
Rosie Rains said she had recently trimmed her trees and cleared surrounding brush from her yard, according to KABC-TV.
She also put safer pre-burnt wood on her roof and built a firetruck turnaround in her yard.
“There are a lot of people up here that don’t do that,” she told the station. “You’re only as safe as what your neighbors are doing.”
Nearly 200 engines are working on the Franklin Fire
There are more than 1,500 personnel working on the Franklin Fire.
In addition, Cal Fire reported that numerous firefighting air tankers were flying fire suppression missions.
There are also 187 engines, 56 dozers, and 12 water tenders.
Malibu City Council member says his home will be ‘uninhabitable'
A Malibu City Council member said his home was damaged in the Franklin Fire.
“The house is going to be uninhabitable,” Bruce Silverstein told The New York Times on Tuesday night. “It needs a major, major amount of work.”
He said that the fire appeared to have entered the building through the chimney, burning one side on the inside.
Wildfire smoke advisory remains in place through Wednesday afternoon
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a wildfire smoke advisory around Los Angeles County and the site of the Franklin Fire on Wednesday.
The advisory is valid until 5 p.m. PST.
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