LIVE: Franklin Fire in Malibu grows to 4,000+ acres with 20% containment after homes destroyed

Southern California Edison announced power has been restored to customers and traffic signals are working again.

The destructive and disruptive Franklin Fire in Malibu has burned more than 4,000 acres.

The Franklin Fire has destroyed nine structures and damaged another six, though only 25% of the area had been surveyed, fire officials said during a press conference Wednesday evening.

The blaze has grown to 4,035 acres with 7% containment. Officials said they are working to reopen roads and lift evacuation orders.

WATCH: Officials provide update on Franklin Fire

The Franklin Fire has destroyed nine structures and damaged another six, fire officials said during a press conference Wednesday evening.

Firefighters had "a lot of success" battling the blaze Wednesday thanks to the improving weather, but it continued to burn in an area of very steep terrain that is difficult to access, CalFire Assistant Chief Dusty Martin said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A group of locals make up the volunteer fire brigade. Dozens of these volunteers don firefighting gear and jump into action whenever their community needs them. They rushed into action when the Franklin Fire took off.

"The entire team feels this is the right thing for us to do. If we don't as citizens step up and take this kind of action who's going to do it for us?" said Brent Woodworth, a member of the brigade.

The fire brigade formed last year to assist the professional firefighters. The brigade is made up of members of the community stepping in to help their neighbors when disaster strikes. Some members are passionate about volunteering even after losing their own homes in fires over the last several years.

"So many of the folks that are on our brigade had survived a personal loss and yet still come back and still want to make the community safer and stronger. It actually increases their level of commitment, and it is very emotional to think about that," Woodworth said.

Eyewitness News talked to Malibu residents who were so thankful to firefighters for saving their homes and also thankful to the volunteers with the fire brigade for doing what they say Americans are known for - helping each other when disaster strikes.

"That's what makes you an American - the ability to step up. You are not getting paid - you are just doing this help other people and when people come together, that's America," said Paul Joseph, a Malibu resident.

The Franklin Fire destroyed just over half a dozen structures and torched thousands of acres.

"When it comes to natural disasters, Mother Nature does not discriminate. Fire doesn't care what political party you are with or your background or anything and therefore it's a great way to bring people together for a common cause to help protect their communities," Woodworth said.

"It's the entire team feels this is the right thing for us to do. If we don't as citizens step up and take this kind of action who's going to do it for us?"

Malibu residents are seeing better conditions Wednesday as fire crews make progress controlling the Franklin Fire.

The fire grew quickly overnight to more than 4,000 acres but by the afternoon the Santa Ana winds were starting to subside. Cooler, more humid conditions are expected to start Thursday.

Containment was listed at 7% with evacuation orders and warnings still in place impacting about 20,000 residents.

The Santa Ana winds are starting to subside and cooler, humid conditions are arriving soon, helping firefighters in Malibu.

Thanks in part to those changing conditions, firefighters were able to stop the flames from reaching dozens of homes in Corral Canyon. It's now trapped in brush below Corral Canyon Road with help from a line of fire retardant, fire breaks and constant water drops.

"It was concerning going to bed. You look out the window, you literally see the fire flare up and then it disappeared and you think I get a bit of a rest now. Next thing you know it flared up again," said Malibu resident Kurt Bendler. "So it was concerning. But the big difference is the winds this time. The winds aren't coming in hot and heavy so it's manageable."

Corral Canyon was hit hard by the Woolsey Fire in 2018 and some residential lots are still devoid of homes. At the time, some felt the firefighting infrastructure was insufficient but upgrades have been made since then, including the training and equipping of volunteer fire brigades.

Residents also made upgrades to their homes, including adding fire hoses and replacing air vents.