“Franklin Fire” rages in Malibu: red alert for southern California

The forest fire in the Californian coastal town of Malibu, popular with Hollywood celebrities and millionaires, is still not under control. According to authorities, by Tuesday evening the flames had destroyed more than 1,150 hectares of land in the region of the residential area west of Los Angeles. Around 20,000 citizens are affected by evacuation orders or warnings, said Jennifer Seeto of the Los Angeles County Police Department. According to the fire department, 1,500 emergency services fought against the sea of ​​flames.

The “Franklin Fire” broke out on Monday evening and spread overnight. On Tuesday, all schools in the city remained closed, and all lectures and exams were canceled at the private Pepperdine University. Aerial reconnaissance showed that an as-yet-undetermined number of homes had been destroyed and damaged, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone told reporters. “The entire fire area remains threatened.”

Tens of thousands of people in Southern California lost power. Utilities often shut off lines before windy days to reduce the risk of fire from downed lines.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the state had already received federal support for the firefighting work. “Firefighters and first responders are working tirelessly to protect lives and property from the Franklin Fire,” he said. Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart described the fire as “traumatic.” He assured that the city and its residents would not let themselves be defeated: “That’s how it is here in Malibu. It burns, it comes back, and we are resilient and strong.”

The coastal town, which is just a short drive from Hollywood’s important film studios, is home to numerous residences and villas of celebrities and Hollywood stars. Famous current or former residents include film star Leonardo DiCaprio, actress Jennifer Aniston and singers Cher and Lady Gaga.

The US Weather Service issued a red alert for large regions of southern California. Strong winds and drought encouraged the development and spread of fires. California has already experienced a number of wildfires this year and has been hit by several heat waves. In July and August, the fourth largest fire in the history of the “Golden State” on the west coast of the USA raged in California.