20,000 Evacuated in Malibu’s Franklin Fire

A fast-moving brush fire in Malibu, dubbed the Franklin Fire, has scorched over 3,000 acres, destroyed seven structures, and forced the evacuation of about 20,000 residents.

Fueled by extreme winds and low humidity, the fire began late Monday near Malibu Canyon Road and spread rapidly south of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), threatening neighborhoods including Malibu Pier, Malibu Knolls, and Sweetwater Mesa.

Evacuation orders remain in place, and PCH is closed as firefighters battle the blaze under challenging conditions. Malibu City Hall and Pepperdine University also issued shelter-in-place orders, with power outages affecting large parts of the area.

L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath assured residents that officials are working tirelessly to ensure safety and recovery. Meanwhile, authorities have warned of worsening fire conditions, with winds expected to gust up to 65 mph overnight.

This devastating fire has left Malibu residents facing uncertainty, as officials urge water conservation and continued vigilance during red flag warnings through Wednesday.