A rapidly intensifying wildfire burning just northwest of Los Angeles forced some residents in Malibu to evacuate as it threatened homes, knocked out power and closed roads in the beach community.
The brush fire blaze, called the Franklin Fire, grew overnight from five acres (two hectares) to 2,200 acres (737 hectares) along steep terrain, spreading south over the Pacific Coast Highway in the picturesque coastal city of about 10,000 people.
The cause of the Franklin Fire remains unknown, but officials reported that over 9 square kilometers of trees and brush had been consumed by the flames.
As of now, the fire remains uncontained. Dangerous conditions were exacerbated by the Santa Ana winds, expected to last through Wednesday.
Cause Unknown
The fire, which has not yet been contained, has destroyed a small number of homes, but has not caused any injuries or deaths, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told a news conference on Tuesday.
“We are going to have a coordinated ground and air assault,” Marrone said, noting that 300 additional firefighters will join the 700 already battling the wildfire in Malibu. “Because of the difficulties in this particular area, time is of the essence for us to grab a hold of this fire.”
The fire’s cause remains unknown, Marrone said. He added that the firefighters were working urgently to control the blaze before the winds were expected to intensify by 2 p.m., stressing the importance of containment.
Evacuations Underway
Authorities went door to door overnight to alert thousands of residents and closed roads as the fire grew.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning, signaling an increased risk of fire danger, for the area as wind gusts on Tuesday could reach 80 miles (129 km) an hour, a situation described as particularly hazardous.
An order for people to shelter in place was issued overnight for Pepperdine University in Malibu, forcing some students to evacuate to the school’s commons and library.
“It’s definitely been a stressful and tiring night,” student Gabrielle Salgado told CNN.
(with inputs from Reuters)
