MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — Weather conditions in Southern California were expected to improve this week, providing relief for firefighters battling a wind-driven wildfire that has forced the evacuation of up to 20,000 people, including celebrities Cher, Dick Van Dyke, and his wife.
On Tuesday, residents under evacuation orders and warnings anxiously awaited to learn whether their homes had been spared by the so-called Franklin Fire, which ignited late Monday and spread rapidly, consuming over 2,800 acres (1,133 hectares) within just 24 hours.
The National Weather Service announced late Tuesday that the strongest Santa Ana winds, with gusts reaching up to 40 mph (64 kph), had passed. These infamous winds, hot and dry, sweep from the inland areas toward the coast, pushing away cooler ocean breezes.
Although weather conditions were expected to improve, forecasters warned that gusty winds would persist through Wednesday morning, particularly in the mountains, maintaining critical fire conditions.
The worst damage occurred in Malibu, a coastal community of about 10,000 people on the western edge of Los Angeles, known for its breathtaking seaside bluffs, Zuma Beach, and its appearances in Hollywood films. Flames threatened celebrity homes, horse ranches, and Pepperdine University, where roughly 3,000 students were forced to shelter in place on campus. Many students evacuated their dorms and made their way to the library, navigating through smoke and ash as flames raged in the nearby canyon.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony C. Marrone reported that an initial aerial assessment suggested seven structures were destroyed, and eight others were damaged.
“This has been a traumatic 20 hours for the city of Malibu,” said Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart. With the fire threatening City Hall, officials had to relocate emergency operations to nearby Calabasas.
Malibu has experienced many major fires over the years, creating a familiar cycle where once-lush vegetation is reduced to ash.
"It burns, it grows back, and we’re resilient and strong," said Mayor Doug Stewart.
Actor Dick Van Dyke, one of many celebrities with homes in Malibu, shared that he and his wife, Arlene Silver, had evacuated as the fire advanced. Van Dyke, who turns 99 on Friday, said, "Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals, except for Bobo, who ran off as we were leaving." Bobo is one of their cats. "We're praying he’ll be OK, and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires."
Cher also evacuated her Malibu home when ordered to do so and is currently staying at a hotel, according to her publicist, Liz Rosenberg, who provided the update late Tuesday.
The fire broke out shortly before 11 p.m. on Monday and quickly moved south, jumping over the iconic Pacific Coast Highway and reaching all the way to the ocean. The flames spread through areas where large homes line the beach and rugged inland canyons, which are notoriously prone to wildfires. At one point, the fire threatened the historic Malibu Pier, but officials confirmed that the structure was successfully protected.
By Monday night, power had been cut to around 40,000 customers, including 11,000 in Los Angeles County, as Southern California Edison worked to minimize the risks posed by the Santa Ana winds. These powerful gusts can damage electrical equipment and ignite wildfires. Gabriela Ornelas, a spokesperson for Edison, said that most customers in Malibu had their power shut off between 6 and 7 p.m. on Monday.
The devastating Woolsey Fire of 2018, which claimed three lives and destroyed 1,600 homes in Malibu, was also caused by Edison equipment.
While Malibu is often associated with its celebrity residents and extreme wealth, Kasey Earnest, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu, expressed particular concern for the lower- and middle-class families, ranchers, and farmers who are also an integral part of the community.
“I call those residents the heart of Malibu,” she said. “They’re just regular families—no helicopters landing on their property.”
___ Dazio reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, Amy Taxin in Orange County, California, Gabriela Aoun in San Diego, and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
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