Firefighters worked through the night to bring under control a deadly fire that burned homes in Malibu and forced thousands to evacuate.
The Franklin Fire continued to threaten the coastal town, growing 39% overnight and burning near some residences and an RV park.
At least seven homes were destroyed and nine were destroyed, but officials said the number could rise as they conduct a thorough investigation. The fire has burned more than 3,900 acres and was 7% contained as of Wednesday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The fire was reported a few minutes before 11:00 p.m. Monday on Malibu Canyon Road in the mountains north of Pepperdine University and has grown rapidly, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, Cal Fire said.
Suddenly, the edge of the fire became more active, returning to Corral Canyon near the Malibu RV park community, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said during a news conference Wednesday morning.
Despite the challenges overnight, crews improved containment lines by abandoning fire retardant and creating additional firebreaks along the fire's eastern edge, in rugged terrain. More than 1,500 firefighters are battling the blaze, Marrone said.
“Crews are working tirelessly around the clock to set up security lines and secure buildings,” Marrone said.
By Tuesday evening, average wind speeds in the fire area had dropped to 15 to 25 mph — a significant drop from wind gusts of up to 65 mph recorded when the fire broke out, National Weather Service meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld said.
A red flag fire warning remains in effect for the area until 6pm Wednesday with forecasters warning of strong Santa Ana winds and very low humidity. But the winds are expected to calm down after that, and firefighters hope to make progress in containing the fire.
“The city of Malibu woke up again when the red sun rose. This morning there was smoke in the sky with a line of fire approaching,” said Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart. “We're a lot better this morning than we were 30-plus hours ago.”
The Franklin Fire is burning in the hills of Malibu.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)
However, officials said many residents living in the blaze are still waiting to hear how their homes are doing. Some spent a second night without power or cell service.
“In our Malibu community, we know he's hurting,” said Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. “Thank you for checking each other out. Thank you for staying vigilant as we bring this fire under control. Know that we are working hard to restore safety and normalcy to Malibu.”
In front of the security gates of Serra Retreat is a small enclosed area of luxury buildings that has been home to celebrities such as Patrick Dempsey, Dick Van Dyke and Mel Gibson at one time or another. The first night this fire shocked many people in the area. Pets were killed and several cars and homes were burned, including one on Mariposa De Oro Street, residents said.
Van Dyke posted on Facebook that he and his wife, Arlene Silver, are moving out of their home.
“Arlene and I got out safely with our animals except that Bobo ran away as we were leaving,” he wrote referring to his cat. “We pray that he will survive and that our community at Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.”
Alec Gellis, 31, was riding his bike around the area looking at homes on Tuesday afternoon. He and his friend stayed from Monday until Tuesday to secure the buildings in the area. He said the fire broke out quickly. At around 11pm, he was in his room when he heard people shouting outside and cars screeching.
“The sky was red and the whole canyon was lit up on the other side,” he said. “We were surrounded by flames. In fact, everywhere you looked there was fire.”
He and his friend, Abel Rodgers, 33, took a hose connected to a machine that draws water from the pond and began spraying their home. Firefighters were busy trying to put out the flames, so for five hours, the two men soaked everything they could, until they went into the neighbors' yards to help put out the fires.
Rich Leo was stuck at a gas station on Pacific Coast Highway as fires raged near Malibu on Tuesday.
He parked his SUV at a Chevron station, the gas was low, and he got the idea to go and fill up the gas station.
“But I don't know if I will be able to go back home,” said Leo, 79, while standing outside a gas station without power.
Leo is a longtime resident, over 40 years, and remembers when the Woolsey fire burned in Malibu and came ashore.
“This one was bad,” he said of the Franklin fire. “It's been bouncing and everywhere I looked I saw fire last night.”
The fire had been burning for several hours when firefighters knocked on the door of his home on Winter Canyon Road around 1 a.m. but he refused to leave. He was concerned about the staff at Our Lady of Malibu Catholic Church and the nearby school.
He wanted to stay behind to make sure everyone was okay.
In a nearby church, one church rode a bicycle to school. The fire burned up to the property line and burned wooden fence posts and plants but firefighters were able to contain the fire.
A man who calls himself Mike entered the school grounds where the gates were opened and all the taps were running.
“I wanted to make sure that everyone was safe and that the school was safe,” said Mike. “My children used to come here when they were young. My house burned down in the Woolsey fire so I know what it means when this happens.”
He wandered around the kindergarten classroom as firefighting helicopters overhead rattled the windows. Another man came out of the brush with a green bucket full of water.
“I'm just trying to do what I can,” said the man, putting out the fire that was smoldering on the fence. He refused to give his name and said that he lives on the hill around the school.
Source link
