Firefighters in Southern California on Wednesday began to contain a fire that erupted in Malibu late Monday night and has burned more than 4,000 acres

Malibu Fire Reminds Residents of the Perils of Living in Paradise

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2024-12-12 02:00:06

Firefighters in Southern California on Wednesday began to contain a fire that erupted in Malibu late Monday night and has burned more than 4,000 acres, destroyed several structures and forced thousands to evacuate the area.

Overnight, firefighters were able to contain 7 percent of the Franklin fire after battling strong winds on Tuesday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. By Tuesday afternoon, dry and windy weather conditions had abated, offering firefighters a better chance at controlling the fire.

The improved conditions also led officials to lift a red flag warning for more than two million residents across Southern California.

Chief Anthony C. Marrone of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said at a news conference on Wednesday morning that officials were still assessing the full scope of the damage, but that their preliminary reviews found that at least seven structures had been destroyed and nine had been damaged.

Nearly 20,000 residents were in the mandatory or voluntary evacuation zones, and officials urged them to continue to avoid the area until the fire was under control.