Hundreds of firefighters are fighting near the Californian city of Malibu, which is home to many Hollywood celebrities, with a fast-spreading wildfire called Franklin. The flames also threaten inhabited areas, while they have already ordered the evacuation of approximately 6,000 people, informs TASR according to Sky News.
The cause of the fire, which broke out on Tuesday night local time north of Malibu, is still unknown. Franklin is spreading quickly and has managed to burn at least 725 hectares of vegetation. He is accompanied by a strong wind, which could reach a speed of up to 65 kilometers per hour.
Sky News reports that they have turned off electricity in the area to mitigate the effects of the notorious dry warm and a strong wind known as Santa Ana or the devil’s wind, which occurs in southern California especially in autumn and winter, while blowing from the interior to the coast.
The National Meteorological Service issued the so-called a red alert warning of an “extremely dangerous situation” for Los Angeles and Ventura counties. On Tuesday, the fire spread to nearby Pepperdine University, a private Christian university, which canceled classes and advised students and staff to take shelter in a local library or campus.
The university management later reported that the greatest danger had already passed. However, it added that smaller fires are still raging in the school grounds, but they do not threaten buildings or people.
