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LIVE: Franklin Fire in Malibu grows to 4,000+ acres with 7% containment after homes destroyed

Pepperdine canceled classes for the day and students were ordered to shelter-in-place again.

KABC logo
Last updated: Thursday, December 12, 2024 1:11AM GMT
ABC7 Eyewitness News

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- Firefighters are battling a brush fire in Malibu near Pepperdine University, prompting evacuations amid dangerous fire conditions due to Santa Ana winds and low humidity.

The Franklin Fire was reported just before 11 p.m. Monday in the area of Malibu Canyon Road north of Pacific Coast Highway. It started at just about 10 acres but has since grown to 4,031 acres.

As flames could be seen from the campus, officials issued a campus-wide shelter-in-place order that was later lifted. Pepperdine canceled classes and finals for the day on Tuesday. Power to tens of thousands of people was shut off as utilities worked to mitigate the impacts of the winds, whose strong gusts can damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires.

At least seven structures were reported destroyed and another nine damaged as of Wednesday morning.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
KABC logo
Dec 11, 2024, 6:50 AM

Franklin Fire map shows 2,200-acre perimeter, evacuation areas

A real-time map provided by fire officials showed the perimeter and evacuation areas of the massive Franklin Fire.

The map on the Los Angeles County Fire Department website reflected the mandatory evacuation order that covered the area east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road, as well as the Serra Retreat area.

A preliminary aerial assessment estimates that seven structures have been destroyed and eight structures damaged, L.A. County Fire Department Chief Anthony C. Marrone said at a news conference Tuesday evening.

Pepperdine University lifted a shelter in place protocol Tuesday morning. At 4:30 p.m., students were ordered again to shelter in the campus center or library.

"Fire activity around Pepperdine's Malibu campus has greatly diminished as the Franklin Fire has burned through most of the fuel immediately surrounding campus, but some flames are still visible in small pockets of campus," the university said on its website.

There has been "little to no damage" to structures around campus.

KABC logo
Dec 11, 2024, 8:37 PM

Malibu fire evacuations, road closures

Fire officials said the evacuation order area encompassed about 6,000 people and more than 2,000 structures. The evacuation warning area covered 12,500 people and more than 6,000 structures.

Mandatory evacuations

  • South of Piuma Road, north of the Pacific Ocean coastline, east of Puerco Canyon Road/Corral Canyon Park, west of Los Flores Canyon Road
  • Between the Pacific Ocean coastline and Tuna Canyon Park to the west of Tuna Canyon Road

Evacuation warnings

  • East of Trancas Canyon Road and Kanan Dune Road, west of Topanga Canyon Blvd/Surfview Drive, south of Mulholland Highway, north of Evacuation Order boundary. Includes Topanga Zone 8 and 10

MAP: Franklin Fire in Malibu evacuations

Road closures

Soft closures: Open only to residents with identification

  • Topanga Canyon Road to Pacific Coast Highway
  • Old Topanga Canyon Road at Mulholland Highway to Topanga Canyon

Hard closures:

  • Tuna Canyon at Pacific Coast Highway
  • Kanan at Pacific Coast Highway
  • Saddle Peak at Tuna Canyon
  • Stunt Road at Mulholland Highway
  • Cold Canyon at Piuma Road
  • Piuma Road at Malibu Canyon all the way to Pacific Coast Highway

Related story: Malibu fire road closures

Evacuation centers

  • Calabasas Community Center at 27040 Malibu Hills Rd.
  • Santa Monica Unified School District Facility at 2802 4th St.
  • Large animals: Pierce College: 6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367; and Agoura Animal Care Center in Agoura

KABC logo
Dec 11, 2024, 12:01 PM GMT

Malibu fire destroys 7 structures, damages 8

The Franklin Fire has destroyed seven structures in Malibu Canyon and damaged eight additional structures, officials said at a 6 p.m. Tuesday press conference update on the blaze.

It wasn't immediately clear how many of those structures were homes.

Aerial footage from AIR7 has shown at least one home consumed by flames and several outbuildings. Other homes Tuesday had visible damage to decks and garages but were spared total destruction in part thanks to aggressive efforts by firefighting agencies and volunteer brigades.

The fire, which started Monday night, has burned more 2,800 acres and remains at 0% containment. Evacuation orders and warnings are in place for areas encompassing about 20,000 residents.

KABC logo
Dec 11, 2024, 3:02 AM GMT

4 Malibu schools to be closed Wednesday, Thursday

Four schools in Malibu will be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to the Franklin Fire. Those schools are: Webster Elementary, Malibu Elementary, Malibu Middle and Malibu High School.

At Pepperdine's Malibu campus, students are required to shelter in place in the Tyler Campus Center or Payson Library. Officials say power remains out.

"Students should plan to be in a shelter location for the duration of the night," the university said. "Student Affairs staff will be in both locations throughout the night as well as having food, power, water, and communications."

KABC logo
Dec 11, 2024, 2:39 AM GMT

Mark Hamill in lockdown as Franklin Fire grows in Malibu Canyon

Mark Hamill lives in the area of Malibu impacted by the Franklin Fire and posted on social media that he was going into lockdown.

"I'm not allowed to leave the house, which fits in perfectly with my elderly-recluse lifestyle," the 73-year-old "Star Wars" actor joked.

The fire, which started Monday night, has burned more than 2,800 acres and as of Tuesday night was 0% contained.

KABC logo
Dec 10, 2024, 11:42 PM GMT

Malibu fire grows to more than 2,800 acres

The Franklin Fire has now burned 2,851 acres in the Malibu area, according to Cal Fire.

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