Wildfire forces evacuations in Malibu as winds spread flames

A fast-moving wildfire fueled by powerful winds has forced evacuations in Malibu, threatening homes and cutting off power as it spreads across steep terrain near Los Angeles. Dubbed the Franklin Fire, the blaze has rapidly grown, leaving destruction in its path.

A wildfire driven by strong winds ignited northwest of Los Angeles on Tuesday (December 10), prompting evacuations in parts of Malibu as it threatened homes, disrupted power, and closed roads in the coastal area.

Known as the Franklin Fire, the blaze expanded rapidly overnight, growing from five acres (two hectares) to 2,713 acres (1,097 hectares) in steep, mountainous terrain. It spread south across the Pacific Coast Highway, endangering the scenic city of about 10,000 residents.

The fire remains uncontained and has destroyed a few homes but caused no injuries or fatalities, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna reported that evacuation orders were issued for 2,043 structures, with warnings for an additional 6,046 properties.

On Tuesday, smoldering homes could be seen as firefighting aircraft dropped water on the burning landscape. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California secured federal assistance from FEMA to combat the wildfire.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a red flag warning due to increased fire risk, with Santa Ana winds gusting up to 65 miles (104 km) per hour, creating hazardous conditions. The warning remains active through Wednesday, though lighter winds are expected.

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