The “fire Franklin’ broke out last night (09.12.2024) and quickly spread to Los Angeleshaving already burned more than 7,300 acres and now threatening homes in Malibu.
A fire spread rapidly Tuesday in Malibu, near Los Angeles, USA, where many celebrities live, with the fire threatening buildings and leading to the evacuation of areas, local authorities announced.
Sheriff’s deputies went door-to-door ordering residents to evacuate as the flames came dangerously close, threatening homes in the coastal community.
Nearby Pepperdine University announced to X that it had suspended its classes and exams for today. Students were forced to remain there overnight as the fire caused a power outage and some students took refuge in the dining hall and library.
In videos released by local media, smoke and fire can be seen rising in front of a library, where students wearing masks have taken refuge.
— primalkey (@primalkey) December 10, 2024
“At the moment, it seems that the greatest danger from the fire has passed. Everything burning around us is like smaller fires in low vegetation,” university student Nick Gerding told CNN from the library, where he took refuge with 400 other students.
Evacuation orders were issued for areas along Malibu with a population of 10,000 after the fire, which started overnight, grew to 7,370 acres and spread south over the Pacific Coast Highway.
— Citizen Los Angeles (@CitizenAppLA) December 10, 2024
Members of the Los Angeles Fire Department battled the flames, while county sheriff’s deputies went door-to-door urging residents to evacuate their homes. Malibu opened shelters and authorities cut power to the entire city, it said in an online post early this morning.
https://t.co/p8n9vJHVCA pic.twitter.com/JU8NmuGYPV
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) December 10, 2024
For its part, the US Weather Service issued red alert for the area, with wind gusts possibly reaching 129 km/h, describing the situation as “particularly dangerous”.
Many Hollywood celebrities live on this coast, one of the most popular areas of California.