Rapidly spreading fire in Malibu grows by nearly 40% overnight as thousands flee

Dec 11, 2024

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)

A rapidly spreading wildfire in Malibu, California, exploded in size on Wednesday, Dec. 11, as thousands of people, including some celebrities, fled their homes. The Franklin Fire, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, grew from around 2,700 acres to nearly 4,000 acres overnight.

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Officials report that at least 7,500 structures, mostly homes, are in harm’s way, and nearly 13,000 are under evacuation orders.

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CalFire says more than 1,500 firefighters are battling the fire, but it remained only slightly contained as crews navigated the rugged terrain.

The fire has burned both homes and celebrity mansions, and at Pepperdine University, thousands of students sheltered in place on campus.

The fire erupted on Monday, Dec. 9, and quickly spread, forcing officials to shut down power to about 40,000 customers in the region to prevent electric equipment from sparking more flames.

So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported.

Tags: California, Los Angeles, natural disaster, Wildfire

[ALEC GELLIS]

“EVERY DIRECTION YOU LOOK IS COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY FIRE. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO DRIVE THROUGH A RING OF FIRE JUST TO GET OUT OF HERE.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A RAPIDLY SPREADING WILDFIRE IN MALIBU EXPLODED IN SIZE WEDNESDAY AS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FLED THEIR HOMES.

[RIVERS REDCLAY]

THE SMOKE WAS SO THICK YOU COULDN’T SEE, LIKE, SOMEONE WAS STANDING OVER THERE, YOU COULDN’T SEE THEM. IT WAS CRAZY. IT WAS INSANE. I MEAN, THEY HAD SO MANY FIRE TRUCKS IN HERE AND JUST SO MANY… I MEAN THE PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW THIS LAND THEY REALLY FOUGHT FOR IT.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE SO-CALLED FRANKLIN FIRE FUELED BY STRONG WINDS AND DRY CONDITIONS GREW FROM JUST AROUND 27-HUNDRED ACRES TO NEARLY FOUR-THOUSAND ACRES OVERNIGHT.

OFFICIALS REPORT AT LEAST 75-HUNDRED STRUCTURES, MOSTLY HOMES, ARE IN HARMS WAY AND NEARLY 13-THOUSAND PEOPLE ARE UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS.

THE FIRE BURNED CELEBRITY MANSIONS AND AT PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WERE FORCED TO SHELTER IN PLACE ON CAMPUS.

CAL FIRE SAYS MORE THAN 15-HUNDRED FIREFIGHTERS ARE BATTLING THE FIRE BUT THE FIRE REMAINED ONLY SLIGHTLY CONTAINED AS CREWS NAVIGATE RUGGED TERRAIN.

THE FIRE ERUPTED MONDAY NIGHT AND QUICKLY SPREAD, FORCING OFFICIALS TO SHUTDOWN POWER TO ABOUT 40-THOUSAND CUSTOMERS IN THE REGION IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FROM SPARKING MORE FLAMES.

SO FAR, NO INJURIES OR DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.