Malibu’s Franklin Fire has grown to nearly 3,900 acres following a red flag warning issued from Monday at 1:40 p.m. until 6 p.m. by the National Weather Service (NWS). This warning was and is specifically for the Eastern San Fernando Valley, the Southern Ventura County Mountains, the Northern Ventura County Mountains, the Interstate 5 Corridor, and Los Angeles.
“Due to the expected long duration of dangerous fire weather conditions and critically dry fuels,” the NWS states, “there is an increased risk for any new ignitions to have very rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior (including long range spotting). As a result, there is the increasing threat for fire weather conditions to rival other historical fires in recent times including the Mountain and Thomas Fires.”
The Franklin Brush Fire
As of earlier today, the Franklin Brush Fire in Malibu, California, was first reported around 11 p.m. near Malibu Canyon Road. It was 10 acres in size and has grown to nearly 3,900 acres in total. Flames could be seen from the nearby Pepperdine University.
A combination of low humidity and Santa Ana winds created these dangerous fire conditions, which destroyed at least seven structures and caused damage to nine this morning. Currently, the fire is in 7% containment.
“Fire activity around Pepperdine’s Malibu campus has greatly diminished as the Franklin Fire has burned through most of the fuel immediately surrounding campus, but some flames are still visible in small pockets of campus,” the university said on its website.
What Are Santa Ana Winds?
Santa Ana winds, also known as devil winds, were expected to increase significantly on Monday afternoon. These winds are known for their arid weather, affecting Southern and Northern Baja California. They originate from cool, dry, and high-pressure air masses in the Great Basin. They typically appear in the fall but can arise during other times of the year. Due to their low humidity, they are known to create critical fire weather conditions.
Mandatory Evacuation Order
Los Angeles County fire officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order covering the area east of Malibu Canyon Road, south of Piuma Road, and the Serra Retreat area. This evacuation order area includes around 6,000 people and more than 2,000 structures.
Evacuation Warning Areas
Fire officials have also issued evacuation warnings for the areas east of Trancas Canyon Road and Kanan Dune Road, west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Surfview Drive, south of Mulholland Highway, and north of the Evacuation Order boundary, including Topanga Zone 8 and 10. The evacuation order warning area includes around 12,500 people and over 6,000 structures.
Evacuation Centers
Evacuation centers for those without large animals include the Calabasas Community Center at 27040 Malibu Hills Road and the Santa Monica Unified School District Facility at 2802 4th Street. For those with large animals, evacuation centers include Pierce College at 6201 Winnetka Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA 91367, and the Agoura Animal Care Center in Agoura.
How to Prepare for a Red Flag Warning
If you are not in an evacuation zone, you can still prepare for potential fires. The NWS provides the following guidelines to help you minimize fire hazards and ensure safety during a red flag warning.
- Burn Barrel Safety: If burning is permitted in your area, it is essential to ensure that all burn barrels have a weighted metal cover, including holes no larger than 3/4 of an inch.
- Properly Dispose of Smoking Materials: Discard cigarettes and matches safely and never fling these from a moving vehicle or toss them outside. Even these can catch in dry grass, starting a wildfire.
- Extinguish Outdoor Fires Deliberately: Whether a fire appears cool or not, it is essential to douse it with plenty of water, enough so that the kindling can be stirred to ensure complete cooling. Charcoal should be submerged and never left unattended while live.
Never Leave Fires Unattended: Small sparks and embers from a fire can catch into a wildfire if left unattended. Never abandon a fire without supervision.
