Wind-Fueled Malibu Wildfire Destroys 7 Buildings, Damages 9 Others
Fire crews are optimistic about making headway in containing the blaze once the winds subside. The origin of the fire remains unclear.
A wildfire in Malibu, California, has nearly doubled in size over the last 24 hours, now covering approximately 6.5 square miles and destroying several homes, as reported by local officials on December 11.
The Franklin Fire is currently 7 percent contained, according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Management (Cal Fire), prior to noon on Wednesday.
Since the fire ignited just before 11 p.m. on Monday, seven structures have been destroyed and nine have sustained damage, as noted by Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone during a press briefing on Wednesday morning.
Firefighters have been engaged in air and ground operations to combat the flames, with Cal Fire taking on management of the escalating situation on Wednesday.
Crews are hopeful to improve containment efforts as wind conditions are expected to calm.
A significant Santa Ana wind event on Monday night has exacerbated the flames, which originated on Malibu Canyon Road in Malibu Creek State Park. The combination of strong winds and low humidity has resulted in critical fire weather across much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
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The cause of the fire is still under investigation by Cal Fire.
On Wednesday, there were concerns about winds shifting directions, which could impact fire spread.
“This has been a wind-driven fire,” Marrone stated during the briefing. “If the wind shifts, it may cause the fire to move into unburned areas.”
Many residents in Malibu had to evacuate in the dead of night when the fire broke out.
Malibu Mayor Pro Tem Doug Stewart noted that residents awoke to a red sky from the persistent smoke on Wednesday morning.
“We’re in a much better position this morning than we were over the last 30-plus hours,” Stewart said. “Malibu is essentially a close-knit community. The homes lost or damaged belong to people we know.”
Most businesses in the downtown area were without power, but Starbucks and Pavilions managed to stay open using generators.
Approximately 1,500 firefighters are engaged in efforts to contain a fierce wildfire in Malibu, California, on December 11, 2024. Cal Fire
City employees are operating from a nearby City Hall in Calabasas while Malibu’s city offices remain under evacuation orders.
On Wednesday, approximately 12,600 individuals continued to be under evacuation orders, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.
“The residents in this area have done remarkably well—actually, an excellent job,” Luna stated during his morning briefing. “While our deputies are assisting with evacuations for residents’ safety, they have been exceptionally cooperative.”
Over 1,500 personnel are actively fighting the Franklin Fire on Wednesday, assisted by more than 100 sheriff’s deputies.
Firefighters are utilizing 187 fire engines, 56 bulldozers, and 12 water tenders in their efforts.
Firefighters are actively combating the Franklin Fire in Malibu, California, on December 11, supported by multiple air tankers and helicopters. Cal Fire
Responders are also receiving support from over a dozen aircraft capable of dropping water and retardant, including Super Scoopers and eight Cal Fire S2-T tankers, which can drop approximately 1,200 gallons of retardant.
The National Weather Service’s red flag warning will remain active until about 2 p.m. Wednesday, as persistent winds and low humidity continue to pose fire threats.
Thousands of local customers are without electricity after Southern California Edison (SCE) turned off power during the windstorm to prevent potential ignitions from fallen lines.
As of 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, power was still out for 6,065 customers in the Santa Monica Mountain area and surrounding Malibu, as reported by SCE spokeswoman Diane Castro.
The utility company was patrolling circuits to check for fire damage when conditions were deemed safe, Castro stated.
“We are diligently inspecting circuits in the area this morning and will restore power as soon as it is safe,” Castro informed The Epoch Times.
Approximately 12,600 Malibu residents continued to be under evacuation orders on December 11. Cal Fire
Law enforcement has closed several roads in the area, including Tuna Canyon at Pacific Coast Highway, Kanan at Pacific Coast Highway, Saddle Peak at Tuna Canyon, Stunt Road at Mulholland Highway, Cold Canyon at Piuma Road, and Piuma Road at Malibu Canyon to the Pacific Coast Highway—accessible only to emergency vehicles.
Residents with proper identification are permitted to travel along Topanga Canyon Road to the Pacific Coast Highway and from Old Topanga Canyon Road at Mulholland Highway to Topanga Canyon.
Evacuation shelters are open at the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District on Fourth Street in Santa Monica and at the Calabasas Community Center on Malibu Hills Road.
Small animals are being sheltered at the Agoura Animal Center in Agoura Hills, while larger animals are being accommodated at Pierce College in Woodland Hills.
