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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.

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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

Jory Rand Image
ByJory Rand
Dec 11, 2024, 8:50 PM GMT

Some Malibu residents stay behind to save homes from Franklin Fire

When the Franklin Fire broke out in the hills of Malibu late Monday night, many residents heeded the evacuation orders and left their homes, but one group of courageous neighbors stayed behind to put up a fight.

Video from the scene captured Abel Rodgers on the roof of his Malibu home at 2 a.m. Tuesday with a high-powered hose fighting back against the encroaching flames.

When the Franklin Fire broke out in Malibu, one group of men stayed behind and defended several homes against the flames.

The flames and showers of embers swirled through the area for hours. Rodgers described the fire as "fierce."

Alec Gellis was also there trying to keep the flames at bay.

Read the neighbors' story here.

KABC logo
Dec 11, 2024, 5:38 PM GMT

No looting reported in Franklin Fire evacuation areas, sheriff says

More than 30 hours after the Franklin Fire erupted in Malibu, there have been no reports of looting or burglaries at homes and businesses in the evacuation areas, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Wednesday.

Luna provided the update during remarks at a morning news conference. On Tuesday, the sheriff had issued a stern warning to any thieves or intruders who might consider taking advantage of the situation.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna speaks at a news conference in Malibu on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna speaks at a news conference in Malibu on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.

With much of Malibu under evacuation orders and warnings, on Wednesday residents waited anxiously to see whether their properties had been spared by the fire, which erupted late Monday and grew to more than 6 square miles. It was just 7% contained.

More than 1,500 firefighters were battling the blaze, with many climbing in steep canyons near lines of flames and others hosing down collapsed roofs of horse stables and charred homes.

Dec 11, 2024, 5:08 PM GMT

Firefighters gain ground on Franklin Fire

Firefighters have managed to gain some ground and get the Franklin Fire 7% contained. The Santa Ana winds that fueled the flames when it started Monday night have significantly weakened, but the dangerously low humidity levels remain a concern.

Firefighters have managed to gain some ground and get the Franklin Fire 7% contained by Wednesday morning.
Dec 11, 2024, 12:53 PM GMT

Franklin Fire grows to more than 3,800 acres

The Franklin Fire in Malibu has scorched 3,893 acres, according to Cal Fire. The fire remains 0% contained and evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.

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