Firefighters have made some progress in containing a devastating wildfire threatening Malibu, California, even as the burned area doubled in size in one day and high wind warnings were forecast to persist through much of Wednesday.
The Franklin Fire, which has burned nearly 1,700 acres, is just 7% contained, according to Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. However, decreasing wind, cooler temperatures and an increase in humidity overnight are helping firefighters gain the upper hand in some areas, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday.
“We are heading in the right direction,” Marrone said at a press conference. But he added: “I will feel like we have turned the corner when we reach 100% containment.”
More than 1,500 firefighters were on the scene, supported by helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft attacking the blaze from the sky. The fire, which destroyed seven structures and damaged nine others, prompted evacuations and shelter-in-place orders, terrifying residents of the wealthy community.
There were no reports of fatalities or injuries, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to Cal Fire.
The Franklin Fire has grown explosively since it was first spotted Monday night, driven by dry conditions and strong seasonal Santa Ana winds. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the coast from Malibu to 6 pm local time, predicting gusts of up to 56 kilometers per hour in the vicinity of the fire’s focus. This could complicate response efforts, bringing the risk of airborne embers that could start new fires.
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Even stronger winds are expected overnight in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where conditions are also dry and prone to fires. About 200 miles east of the Franklin Fire, the San Bernardino County Fire Department is battling the Rogers Fire, which began Tuesday as a residential incident and spread to about 10 acres.
“With the threat of these strong wind gusts in these windier corridors, there will be an increased risk of falling tree limbs and power lines, as well as power outages,” the weather service wrote in an advisory.
Road access is severely limited, with strict closures along the Pacific Coast Highway, which connects Malibu to Los Angeles. Local public schools will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a post on Malibu City X. The power remains out in much of Malibu, interfering with cell phone service, traffic lights and other services.
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“The city of Malibu woke up again to a very red dawn,” Mayor Doug Stewart said at Wednesday’s press conference. “This morning this is due to lingering smoke in the sky rather than the approaching fire line. We are much better this morning than we were in the last 30 hours.”
Malibu is one of the state’s wealthiest communities, with miles of pristine beaches and homes selling for a median price of more than $4 million. Actor Dick Van Dyke posted on social media Tuesday that he, his wife and their animals had evacuated their home. The evacuation orders cover an area not far from the site of the Getty Fire, a 2019 blaze that burned 301 acres.
California will receive emergency federal assistance to help fight the Franklin Fire, according to a statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office Tuesday.
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As a precautionary measure, electricity utilities in the region ordered power cuts to prevent their equipment from generating sparks that could start new fires.
San Diego Gas & Electric Co. disconnected service to nearly 47,000 customers Wednesday morning, with another 71,000 on notice of possible outages later this week.
About 25,000 Southern California Edison customers were without power Wednesday morning, mostly in Los Angeles County. The company was considering additional cuts for nearly 23,000 more homes and businesses.
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