Firefighters in Southern California began to contain a fire in Malibu on Wednesday that erupted late Monday night, burning nearly 4,000 acres, destroying several structures, and prompting thousands to evacuate.
As of Wednesday, firefighters had achieved 7 percent containment of the Franklin fire, despite battling strong winds on Tuesday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony C. Marrone reported at a news conference that officials were still assessing the full extent of the damage. Preliminary evaluations indicated that at least seven structures had been destroyed and nine were damaged. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
Nearly 20,000 residents remained in mandatory or voluntary evacuation zones, with officials urging them to avoid the area until the fire is under control. Chief Marrone emphasized that “the entire fire area remains under threat.”
Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart noted that while the fire had grown, the city was in a better position on Wednesday compared to the previous day. He remarked, “This morning, the city of Malibu awoke again to a very red sunrise,” attributing it to lingering smoke rather than the advancing fire.
Inspection teams were set to begin damage assessments on Wednesday, with Chief Marrone anticipating a clearer understanding of the damage by the afternoon.
Among those affected was Malibu City Council member Bruce Silverstein, whose home sustained damage as the fire entered through the chimney. After evacuating, he sought shelter at a hotel before returning to assess the damage, stating, “The house is going to be uninhabitable.”
Over two million residents in Southern California, including the Malibu area, remained under a red flag warning through Wednesday night due to favorable conditions for wildfire spread.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert G. Luna urged residents to stay vigilant regarding evacuation orders, describing the partial containment of the fire as “a step in the right direction” while cautioning that the situation remains ongoing.
As wildfire risks persisted, over 23,000 customers in Southern California, including around 11,000 in Los Angeles County, experienced power outages after Southern California Edison shut off electricity due to the fire threat.
Chief Marrone indicated that officials would monitor strong winds and low humidity throughout Wednesday, warning that the fire could spread if winds shifted. Crews faced challenges from steep terrain in the Santa Monica Mountains above Malibu. Weather reports suggested that while the strongest winds had subsided, dry conditions could continue to fuel the Franklin fire until a potential rain event on Thursday.