A wildfire in Malibu, California, has almost doubled in size in a day, burning down homes as dangerous winds fan the flames and prompt utilities to cut power.
The Franklin Fire has destroyed seven structures and damaged eight others. Nearly 3,900 acres have burned as the blaze rages out of control, according to Cal Fire, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. More than 1,500 firefighters were on-site as of Tuesday evening.
There were no reports of fatalities or injuries from the fire, but parts of Malibu remain under an evacuation order, Cal Fire said.
“The entire fire area remains under threat,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said at a briefing Tuesday. Strong winds and low humidity “will continue to challenge firefighters on the line and in the air,” he said, adding that the county fire department and sheriff’s office will join forces with arson investigators to find out how the fire started.
The fire has grown explosively since it was first spotted Monday night, driven by dry conditions and strong, seasonal Santa Ana winds. Dangerous gusts are expected to extend into Wednesday. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the Malibu coast until 2pm local time Wednesday, predicting gusts of up 35 miles (56 kilometers) per hour near the fire’s footprint. That could complicate response efforts, bringing a risk of air-tossed embers sparking new blazes.
Even stronger winds are expected into the evening for portions of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, where conditions are also dry and conducive to fire.
“With the threat of these strong wind gusts in these windier corridors, there will be an increased risk for downed tree limbs and power lines, along with power outages,” the weather service wrote in an advisory.
The Malibu blaze has triggered evacuations and shelter-in-place orders, terrifying residents of the wealthy community. Road access is severely limited, with hard closures along the Pacific Coast Highway that connects Malibu to Los Angeles. Local public schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, according to an X post from the City of Malibu.
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 745 acres.
California will receive federal emergency assistance to help fight the Franklin fire, according to a statement from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office Tuesday.
As a safety precaution, electric utilities across the region have ordered power cuts to prevent their equipment from tossing sparks that could start new fires.
San Diego Gas & Electric Co had shut off service to 47,000 customers early Wednesday morning, with another 71,000 on notice for potential outages later this week.
Nearly 30,000 customers of Southern California Edison were without power early Wednesday morning, with the majority located in Los Angeles County. The company was considering additional outages for another 23,000 homes and businesses.
