On Tuesday, December 10th，wildfires rapidly spread in the northwest of Los Angeles, California, forcing some residents of Malibu to evacuate. The wildfires have threatened residential homes, causing power outages, and roads leading to beach communities have been closed off.
According to Reuters, the brush fire, known as the Franklin Fire, expanded overnight from an initial five acres to nearly 2,700 acres. The fire spread south along steep cliffs to the Pacific Coast Highway, engulfing Malibu, a picturesque coastal city with a population of around ten thousand.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone stated at a press conference on Tuesday that the containment rate of the fire was zero. While a few homes have been destroyed, there have been no casualties reported. Marrone said, “We will coordinate ground and air firefighting efforts.” Currently, 700 firefighters are involved in extinguishing the fire, with an additional 300 firefighters set to join them. “Time is crucial for us to control this fire due to the challenges presented by this particular area,” he added.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Malibu resident Fred Roberts said, “I wanted to go back to check on their (neighbors) homes, thinking it wasn’t a big deal. But when I saw a house burnt down, I realized that this is serious, the disaster is indeed severe.”
As the fire grew, authorities issued warnings to thousands of residents and closed off roads during the night.
The National Weather Service issued a red alert, indicating an increased fire risk in the area due to Santa Ana winds that could reach gusts of up to 65 miles per hour on Tuesday, which is considered particularly dangerous. The red alert will remain in effect until Wednesday, with the wind speeds expected to gradually weaken.
Pepperdine University in Malibu canceled the mandatory evacuation order for students to relocate to school public areas and libraries overnight. The students were advised to return to their residences and on-campus housing, and to stay on campus, avoiding travel on the roads.
University President Jim Gash stated in a release, “Our campus was designed and maintained with fire safety in mind. In the wildfires affecting the Malibu campus, our campus has proven to be a safe haven for our community. Fortunately, the campus structures have suffered minimal damage, and there have been no reports of injuries to students or faculty.”