Massive Wildfire in Malibu, California Triggers Evacuations
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Los Angeles, Dec 11 (NationPress) A massive wildfire in Malibu, located in Southern California, has escalated to over 2,700 acres (10.9 square kilometers), necessitating evacuations due to perilous fire conditions.
The wildfire, dubbed Franklin Fire, was first reported on Monday night, originating near Malibu Creek State Park in Los Angeles County, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
By Monday evening, power had been cut to tens of thousands of residents as utility companies worked to lessen the effects of high winds, which can damage electrical infrastructure and ignite wildfires, according to local news.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has issued mandatory evacuation orders. The affected fire area is currently closed to public access.
Approximately 18,000 residents and 8,100 homes and businesses are under evacuation orders or warnings, stated Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna during a press conference on Tuesday. Several shelters have been established for affected residents.
Cal Fire warned, "Widespread Red Flag conditions across much of Southern California due to Santa Ana Winds will continue to pose a threat to both residents and property throughout the week."
They urged individuals to stay informed about weather and fire conditions in their vicinity and to be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
Currently, the fire remains active with no containment reported, according to Cal Fire's live updates.
The strength of the Santa Ana Winds peaked on Tuesday morning, exacerbating the fire and worsening conditions.
According to the US National Weather Service (NWS), "Critical fire weather conditions are expected to persist through at least Wednesday as a strong Santa Ana wind event continues across the burn area." Improvements in wind and fire weather conditions are not anticipated until Wednesday afternoon, as per NWS.
As a precautionary measure due to the ongoing fire and safety risks, all Malibu schools were closed on Tuesday, as announced by the city.
More than 60,000 customers in California are currently without power, reported PowerOutage.us.
The Pacific Coast Highway was closed between Carbon Canyon and Corral Canyon Road, allowing access only for evacuees, according to Cal Fire.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone stated during a news briefing on Tuesday that "a minimal number" of homes have been destroyed, with no serious injuries or fatalities reported thus far.
The state of California received a grant from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to aid in fire response, as announced by Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday.
A local emergency has also been declared in Los Angeles County due to "conditions of disaster" or "extreme peril to the safety of persons and property," according to Kathryn Barger, chair of the county board of supervisors.
