The authorities have already ordered the evacuation of approximately 6,000 people.
Hundreds of firefighters are battling the fast-spreading Franklin wildfire near Malibu, California, home to many Hollywood celebrities. The flames also threaten inhabited areas, while approximately 6,000 people have already been ordered to evacuate, according to 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. It is accompanied by strong winds that could reach speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour.
Sky News reports that they cut power in the area to mitigate the effects of the notoriously dry, warm and strong winds known as the Santa Ana, or Devil’s Wind, which occurs in southern California especially in the fall and winter, blowing from the interior to the coast.
The National Meteorological Service issued the so-called red alert warning of an “extremely dangerous situation” for Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The fire also spread near Pepperdine University, a private Christian university, on Tuesday, 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 passed, but added that smaller fires were still raging on the campus. which, however, do not endanger buildings or people.
