An uncontrolled fire in Malibu causes the evacuation of thousands of people

It was around midnight on Tuesday when a fire broke out in the mountains of Malibu west of Los Angeles, which has forced authorities to order the evacuation of thousands of people in the area. At least 6,000 of the 10,200 people who reside in the luxurious coastal town have been affected by the spread of the uncontrolled fire, dubbed the Franklin Fire with some 2,000 structures and homes, many of them luxury mansions, under evacuation orders.

The strong Santa Ana winds of the last few hours have caused the fire to advance at high speed and the 700 firefighters who are currently fighting the flames have not been able to contain the fire. The authorities estimate that until now About 2,200 acres of land have been burned (about 890 hectares).

At the moment the origin of the fire and whether it was caused or not is unknown. It is known that it began around 11 pm on Monday and that the flames have surrounded several areas around the Pacific Coast Highway, the famous road that runs through Malibu facing the sea. According to the city of Malibu, the fire has crossed that road in at least two points, one of them next to the Malibu pier, which is usually a pilgrimage point for locals and tourists.

The Los Angeles County Fire Chief, Anthony Marronenoted in a press conference on Tuesday morning that only a “minimal” number of houses have been destroyed, without citing an exact number, and that they expect the number of firefighters working in the area to increase from 700 to 1,100. The authorities have asked that the affected population pay attention to the evacuation notices since the danger is real.

The governor of California, Gavin Newsomis being informed about the fire while the State has already obtained a fire management assistance grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with extinguishing the fire.

“Firefighters and first responders are working tirelessly to protect lives and property from the Franklin Fire,” Newsom said in a statement. “California is grateful for this federal support, which reinforces these efforts. I urge all residents in affected areas to remain alert and follow evacuation orders“.

The Pepperdine University It has also been affected by the fire, although the center asked its students not to leave campus during the night. Images of flames surrounding the university buildings in the middle of the night have already circulated on social networks. Tuesday classes and final exams before the Christmas break have been suspended.

The Malibu mayor’s office building is also in the mandatory evacuation zone, which has forced the emergency operations center to be moved. In addition, the Palisades recreation center has been converted into a welcome point for neighbors and pets.