Malibu Franklin fire live: Dick Van Dyke recalls ‘trying to crawl’ to escape wildfire as over 4,000 acres burned

A fast-moving wildfire has scorched more than 4,000 acres in Malibu, forcing 20,000 residents to flee as flames race towards homes, horse farms and Pepperdine University.

The Franklin Fire, another late-year wildfire fanned by fierce Santa Ana winds, has left a trail of destruction as officials confirmed nine structures were destroyed and six damaged. Fire officials say it will take a “number of days” to put out the blaze, according to NBC Los Angeles. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The strongest winds in the area have passed and meteorologists said high fire dangers have decreased, which should aid efforts to contain the fire. Evacuations have displaced thousands of residents, including celebrities Dick Van Dyke and Cher.

Malibu mayor Doug Stewart called it a “traumatic 20 hours” for the city, as emergency operations relocated to Calabasas after the city hall was threatened. He said: “It burns, it grows back, and we’re resilient.”

More than 1,500 firefighters are battling the blaze with many roads closed and others under security patrols. At Pepperdine University, 3,000 students sheltered in place as smoke and embers engulfed the campus. “Ash was everywhere, embers were everywhere,” said a student, Bethany Kronlund.

Related Posts

‘We are with NDA, have issued whip’: Union minister Jayant Chaudhary supports Waqf Amendment Bill

Union minister and RLD President Jayant Chaudhary on Wednesday showed support to the Waqf Amendment Bill which is to be introduced in the Lok Sabha today. Chaudhary said “We are…

Counter-terrorism police may have produced ‘intel report’ on Hindu extremists in Britain; Bob Blackman raises it in Parliament

UK counter-terrorism police might have created the secret report alleging British Hindu extremists’ alignments with far-right European groups. Tory MP Bob Blackman demands the report’s publication, highlighting incidents in Leicester.…