Ferocious Wildfire Scorches Malibu, Forces Thousands to Flee as Emergency Crews Battle to Contain Blazes
A wildfire, dubbed the Franklin fire, swept through Malibu, California, on Monday night, forcing thousands of people to evacuate as powerful winds fueled the inferno. The blaze, reported at around 11 p.m. on Monday, grew rapidly, engulfing an area of around 2,850 acres by Tuesday afternoon. The fire tore through the affluent coastal city, destroying homes and triggering widespread power outages.
The fire, driven by strong Santa Ana winds, was reported to have jumped Pacific Coast Highway in the early morning hours, but the historic pier was not seriously damaged. A sheriff’s patrol car, however, was destroyed in the fire, with the deputy on board escaping unscathed.
Authorities ordered the eastern half of Malibu, along with parts of Los Angeles County, to evacuate, affecting around 18,000 people. The fire department deployed over 800 firefighters to battle the blazes, with air tankers dropping water to contain the flames.
As the fire continued to rage, residents described the horror of fleeing their homes in the dark, with little time to grab belongings or rescued their pets. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone urged residents to limit their use of lawn sprinklers to maintain water pressure for firefighters.
Meteorologists reported that the winds, which had reached up to 65 mph, began to decrease, with speeds slowing down to 15-25 mph by Tuesday evening. However, the region remained under a red flag alert until 6 p.m. the following day.
Many residents were left assessing the damage, including celebrities living in the affected areas. Patrick Dempsey, Dick Van Dyke, and Mel Gibson were among those who had their homes affected, with Van Dyke and his wife Arlene escaping the fire, leaving behind their cat, Bobo.
Fire crews faced challenges battling the blaze, with multiple spot fires breaking out throughout the night. A resident who was forced to flee his home described the scene, saying, “The sky was red and the whole canyon was lit up on the other side. We were surrounded by flames. Literally everywhere you looked, there was fire.”
The fire, the second major blaze in the region this fire season, had emergency responders battling for control, with the Los Angeles County Fire Department deploying aircraft to drop water on the flames. Governor Gavin Newsom visited the affected area, saying, “Fire season is not a season. It’s year-round in the state of California.”
