Malibu: Numerous celebrities are fleeing devastating forest fires

In the Californian coastal town of Malibu, the flames of a forest fire have spread from the hilly hinterland to the beaches. According to the city administration, parts of the famous Pacific Coast Highway have been closed. In the village, houses near the pier were also in danger, it was said. Thousands of residents fled the affected areas overnight.

More than 700 firefighters battled the rapidly spreading forest fire along the burning Pacific coast. The “Franklin Fire” broke out late on Monday evening (local time). According to the fire department, it quickly spread to an area of ​​more than 1,100 hectares. At first it was not possible to contain the flames.

Evacuations were ordered or warnings issued in large parts of Malibu. There were no reports of injuries or deaths. The authorities initially did not provide any information about damage. Photos and videos from news channels showed burning and charred houses. Pepperdine University is also located in the area. Students and staff were asked to find a shelter. Schools remained closed on Tuesday.

Malibu, around 50 kilometers west of Los Angeles, is known as the home of many film stars. “Scary times,” wrote Oscar winner Mira Sorvino on the X platform. They had evacuated their house in the middle of the night with children and pets.

Cher has evacuated her house and stayed in a hotel with her pets, the singer and actress’ spokeswoman said, according to the New York Times. Actor Dick Van Dyke wrote on Facebook that he and his wife had taken their animals to safety from these “terrible fires”.

The cause of the fire was initially unknown. The flames were spread quickly by strong Santa Ana winds, which occur primarily in the fall and winter. In November 2018, a severe fire raged around Malibu, devastating large areas of the country and destroying more than 1,500 homes, including celebrity villas. The houses of presenter Thomas Gottschalk, US singer Miley Cyrus and actor Gerard Butler, among others, burned down.

In view of climate change, experts warn that fires are becoming more frequent and more destructive. Just in November, a violent forest fire – also fueled by Santa Ana winds – destroyed numerous houses in southern California.