Malibu's Franklin Fire reaches full containment
MALIBU, Calif. - Firefighters were able to prevent the Franklin Fire in Malibu from spreading despite the return of Santa Ana winds, with the blaze remaining at 4,037 acres and containment increasing to 100% Thursday.
A red flag warning of critical fire danger was scheduled to be in place until 6 p.m. Wednesday, but the winds died down earlier than expected, and the National Weather Service lifted the red flag warning shortly after 3 p.m.
For Malibu residents, the road to recovery continues. In recent days, all evacuees impacted by the Franklin Fire were allowed to return home and school reopened for students on Monday.
Ahead of the weekend, the city fully reopened Pacific Coast Highway for public traffic, including businesses, from Topanga Canyon to Kanan Dume Road. In addition, Pepperdine University and the Civic Center area reopened.
The Franklin Fire began raging Monday, Dec. 9 into Tuesday morning, driven by strong Santa Ana winds, with wind gusts reaching over 50 mph at times. The howling winds caused the fire to burn out of control and erratically, making containment a challenge for fire crews.
Fire officials said 28 structures were damaged while another 20 structures were destroyed.
No fatalities or serious injuries have been reported.
SUGGESTED COVERAGE: Cause of Malibu Franklin Fire under investigation; Residents still without power
"Malibu is strong. That strength and resilience peak when we work together and that has been demonstrated throughout the duration of the Franklin Fire. Our commitment to our impacted communities is unwavering and we will do everything in our power to help you navigate the challenges that come with every stage of this emergency," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath in a press conference last week.
Location of Franklin Fire in Malibu
Just before 11 p.m. on Monday, crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to Malibu Canyon Road in Malibu Creek State Park, where a high volume of dry brush contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. It erupted in the midst of a rare "particularly dangerous situation red flag warning" issued by the National Weather Service in response to strong wind gusts and dramatically dry conditions.
What started the Malibu fire?
The cause of the fire is under investigation by LA County Fire and Sheriff's arson teams.
Evacuation Order and Warnings
As of Tuesday, Dec. 17, all evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted. At the height of the fire, roughly 20,000 people were under either evacuation orders or warnings.
Schools Reopen
The Santa Monica - Malibu Unified School District announced the reopening of three Malibu schools Monday.
The schools reopening include Malibu Elementary, Malibu Middle, and Malibu High Schools. Webster Elementary School sustained damage from the fire and students and staff at that campus will relocate to Malibu Elementary School beginning Tuesday, Dec. 17.
District officials plan to work on repairs and cleanup for students and staff to return to Webster Elementary on Jan. 6, 2025.
Power Shut-offs
Southern California Edison shut off power for parts of Malibu in the wake of the fires.
Additionally, thousands of customers were without power for days across LA, Ventura, and Orange counties in order to prevent electrical equipment from sparking wildfires.
As of Wednesday afternoon, fewer than 1,000 SCE customers throughout Los Angeles County had their power cut through the program, including some in the Malibu fire area.
RELATED: Thousands in Southern California at risk of power shutoffs amid Red Flag Warning
Emergency Declarations and Assistance
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger issued an emergency declaration early Tuesday morning. Gov. Gavin Newsom reported that the state secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from FEMA to aid the firefight, acknowledging the relentless efforts of fire officials and first responders.