MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) - The fire department issued new maps early Tuesday morning that showed a clearer picture of the rapidly expanding Franklin Fire in Malibu that blackened more than 2,200 acres of land and displaced en-masse along the region. Maps issued by Cal Fire and Los Angeles County Fire Department show the rapidly expanding edge of the fire and areas anticipated to be affected by it.
Evacuations have been directed for people living in some of the communities, such as the community east of Malabus Canyon Road, below Piuma Road, and Serra Retreat community, as per accessible real-time maps. Agencies acted swiftly because of the dangerous flare of fire in an attempt to contain the community as the fire continues to impact residential homes and essential infrastructure in such communities.
The fire started sometime around 11 p.m. Migrated south on Monday night, jumping over Pacific Coast Highway and careening toward the ocean. The fire could have delivered significant damage to landmark buildings in the area, including historic Malibu Pier. Officials said, even as fire was about to consume it, the building remained intact, and the historic pier wasn't destroyed. The fire also threatened to engulf a line of pricey, multi-story beach homes and the backcountry canyons, where high fire danger put houses at risk.
Firefighters, whose battle was compounded by gusting winds and sloping terrain, battled late into the evening to save canyon homes. The majority of the residents fled on foot, some stealing horses under Pepperdine University siege houses and racing to other areas. Sun on Tuesday morning was covered by thick smoke over Pepperdine University and nearby hills sloping towards the beach. Even though the shelter-in-place had already been done on yesterday morning, the university cancelled its entire day of classes and end-of-day examinations as a preventive measure for the safety of students, staff, and faculty.
The cause of the Franklin Fire remains unknown, but fire officials indicate that about 3 square miles of dry underbrush and woods were ravaged by the blaze. Some buildings remain at risk as the fire rages through the terrain, though no critical or fatal wounds are currently being reported.
With the fire still not fully contained, the authorities are watching it closely and prepared to order further evacuations. Firefighters are still fighting the fire with difficult conditions, poised to take over the fire for the rest of the day. The hot climate, dry terrain, and windy conditions, typical of the area's Santa Ana winds, have been facilitating the fires jumping from place to place like flashes of lightning, as a precaution to warn the public and firefighters.
While the areas to be evacuated may themselves have been partially evacuated, the general public are requested not to venture into damaged areas so that rescue individuals can just keep on doing what they do best without being disturbed and the safety of people is guaranteed. The residents are also warned by authorities to be on high alert, as things develop, the warning that the fire can shift in any direction at any moment in any other direction as the conditions continue to change during the day. The fire still remains of utmost concern to Malibu residents and throughout the surrounding communities.
