Franklin Fire Reaches 2,200 Acres in Malibu; 6,000 Evacuated, Pepperdine Cancels Classes

Dec 10, 2024, 03:55 PM

A wind-driven wildfire named the Franklin Fire erupted in Malibu, California, late Monday night, rapidly spreading to over 2,200 acres by Tuesday afternoon due to strong Santa Ana winds with gusts up to 65 mph. The blaze prompted mandatory evacuation orders for approximately 6,000 residents, including those in central Malibu, Malibu Colony, and areas east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road. Pepperdine University canceled classes and finals for Tuesday as the fire threatened its campus and power outages affected the area. The fire has destroyed some structures, including homes in the Malibu Road area, has jumped the Pacific Coast Highway near the Malibu Pier, and is threatening over 2,000 structures. Firefighters report zero percent containment as they battle the blaze, but efforts are hampered by extreme fire weather conditions and power outages. Red flag warnings remain in effect, and officials urged residents under evacuation orders to leave immediately.