Malibu Franklin Fire: About 20% contained, some residents can return home soon as cause remains under investigation
Roughly 20,000 face evacuations in Malibu, including some celebrities, as fire continues to rage near Los Angeles
A fast-moving wildfire scorched more than 4,000 acres in Malibu, forcing 20,000 residents to flee as flames raced toward homes, horse farms and Pepperdine University.
The Franklin Fire, another late-year wildfire fanned by fierce Santa Ana winds, left a trail of destruction in its wake. Officials confirmed nine structures were destroyed and six had been damaged. Fire officials said it will take a “number of days” to put out the blaze, which was 20 percent contained early Thursday afternoon. The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
The strongest winds in the area had passed and meteorologists said high fire dangers decreased, which aided efforts to contain the fire. Evacuations in Malibu displaced thousands of residents, including celebrities Dick Van Dyke and Cher.
Mayor Doug Stewart said earlier in the week that the fire had marked a “traumatic 20 hours” for the city.
More than 1,900 personnel continued to battle the blaze, with many roads closed and others under security patrols. Some areas would reopen to residents.
“To those who are still waiting, know that every efforts is being made to ensure your safety and your return as soon as possible,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said.
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 resident says he was surrounded by fire
Malibu resident Alec Gellis described the moment he was surrounded by flames from the Franklin Fire at his home.
“I thought I was going to have to drive through a ring of fire just to get out of here,” he told Newsweek.
See it: Franklin Fire Spreads Rapidly In Malibu, California
WATCH: Santa Ana winds fuel dangerous Franklin Fire in Southern California
Newlywed couple in tears as fire ravages new home
A newlywed Californian couple were amongst those who lost their homes and all their belongings in the wildfire.
Michelle and Blake Geffen had recently moved into a rental property in the Serra Retreat Community when they got a call from their landlord urging them to evacuate.
They grabbed their cat and passports and jumped in their car fleeing scorched Malibu.
The couple found out their home and all their possessions were destroyed while watching a news bulletin, according to NBC Los Angeles.
“We heard screaming in our neighborhood. And we just knew something was off. And we got a call from our landlord, and he just said, hey, there’s a fire, you need to go,” Michel told the news station.
Michelle added: “I just want to say thank you so much to all the really, really brave men and women out there who are doing their best to fight, you know, just really, really, they’re real heroes. It’s really brave.
“It makes me cry. It makes me grateful. It makes me want to give back.”
Containing Franklin Fire will take ‘a number of days'
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that it could take a “number of days” to put out the blaze completely.
Fire crews have made steady progress, with changing weather patterns helping the Franklin Fire to reach seven percent containment on Wednesday evening.
There does, however, remain a challenge: the Malibu Canyon.
Once firefighters can get to the hard-to-reach terrain and remote regions, they will cut down vegetation to inhibit the fire from spreading further, according to Cal Fire.
Cool temperatures, calm winds and a chance of rain offers relief for California fire crews
Changing weather conditions in Southern California may bring fire crews some much-needed respite as they continue to try and contain the blaze swapping through the region.
This week’s forecast is predicting cooler temperatures, calmer winds and a chance of rainfall is forecast to help firefighters battle a wind-driven blaze in hard-reaching terrain that’s driven thousands from their homes in Malibu.
Improving weather conditions lead to meteorologists discontinuing all red flag warnings on Wednesday.
Firefighters may have “a lot of success” despite the nearly inaccessible terrain thanks to the weather, CalFire Assistant Chief Dusty Martin said.
In photos: Firefighters and residents sift through Malibu’s charred remains
‘It’s pretty torched all around’: Evacuated Malibu residents speak out
Malibu residents whose lives have been upturned by the Franklin wildfire have spoken out.
Lonnie Vidaurri left behind his four-bedroom home in the Malibu Knolls neighborhood which was charred by raging fires. Vidaurri, his wife and two young daughters evacuated to a hotel in Santa Monica.
“It’s pretty torched all around,” Vidaurri told the Associated Press. 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.”
Red Cross spokesperson who worked in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, Mimi Teller, said many people arrived in their pajamas and were “definitely in shock.”
“Nobody even had a backpack, it was, ‘Get out now,’” she said. “One lady didn’t even have a leash for her dog, she just scooped them up.”
Fast asleep on Tuesday morning, Shawn Smith was awoken when someone knocked on his RV at 3 a.m. Smith, along with residents from the Malibu RV Park, were evacuated.
“You could see the fires rolling in, in over the canyon,” he said. “It was like ‘Holy crap, this is real.’”
Red flag warnings have ended but hazards remain across Southern California
Red flag warnings were ended over the area affected by the Franklin Fire, but forecasters said that elevated to brief critical conditions are lingering through the evening for the southwest Santa Barbara County and the San Gabriel Mountains.
A beach hazards statement was in effect in the region through Sunday afternoon, including for the Malibu Coast and Los Angeles County beaches. Dangerous rip currents and breaking waves due to elevated surf of between four and six feet are forecast, as well as coastal flooding and tidal overflow.
“There is an increased risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Waves can wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats nearshore,” the National Weather Service said.
And, a storm system off the Oregon coast will bring breezy coastal winds and light rain chances to the northern areas and mountains.
Friday is expected to be dry, but another system is being watched with impacts anticipated over the weekend.
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