As winds intensify across Southern California due to a Santa Ana wind event, the Franklin Fire has emerged about 5 miles north of downtown Malibu. The fire has quickly escalated, prompting mandatory evacuations and endangering structures in the area.
The inferno has rapidly expanded to over 850 acres, nearly tripling in size within just one hour, as reported by CALFire. The Los Angeles County Fire Department has issued mandatory evacuation orders east of Malibu Canyon Rd and South of Piuma Rd, along with the Serra Retreat area.
The National Weather Service has recorded gusts exceeding 50 mph in the vicinity of the Franklin Fire, with extremely dry air at a relative humidity of only 8%. A high wind warning is in effect until Tuesday afternoon, with gusts potentially reaching 70 mph. Although wind speeds are anticipated to decrease to below 50 mph later in the day, the dry conditions are expected to persist through Tuesday and Wednesday.
The combination of dry air, strong winds, and dry vegetation is creating a dangerous environment where fires can rapidly spread out of control, posing a significant threat to life and property. While no structures have been reported damaged yet, several are currently under threat.
The City of Malibu has activated its Emergency Operations Centers, acknowledging the fire's rapid rate of spread. Nearby Pepperdine University has implemented a shelter-in-place protocol, directing all community members on the Malibu campus to seek shelter in designated areas.
Despite mandatory evacuation orders in neighboring communities, Pepperdine University has opted to remain in place, following the approved shelter-in-place directive issued by the fire department. The situation remains dynamic as firefighting units work tirelessly on the ground and in the air to contain the blaze amidst challenging weather conditions.
