Franklin Fire: Evacuation Orders Lifted, Roads Reopen Friday

MALIBU (CNS) - Firefighters Friday continued their efforts to fully douse the Franklin Fire in Malibu, which was smoldering in steep and dangerous terrain, with cooler weather, higher humidity and the absence of strong winds helping minimize the spread of the destructive wildfire that started on Monday.

With the Santa Ana winds subsided and overall conditions improving, the 4,037-acre Franklin Fire remained the same size Friday, and the containment also remained the same at 30%, according to Cal Fire.

"Fire activity overnight remained minimal, and no significant fire growth occurred," Cal Fire said in a statement Friday. "The fire continues to smolder in steep and very dangerous terrain. Aerial suppression efforts in those areas have been successful in keeping the fire subdued. ... The priority is to repopulate evacuated areas as quickly as possible."

At the height of the fire, roughly 20,000 people were under either evacuation orders or warnings. Some of them were allowed to return home Thursday when fire conditions began improving.

According to Cal Fire, as of 11:19 a.m. Friday:

• 14 "residential, commercial and other" structures have been destroyed;
• 13 "residential, commercial and other" structures have been damaged; and
• 1,725 personnel were assigned, along with 16 helicopters and 148 fire engines were assigned to the firefighting effort.

On Friday afternoon, Malibu city spokesman Matt Myerhoff announced that all evacuation orders that had been issued due to the fire have been reduced to warnings, allowing all residents to return to their homes.

"This significant milestone reflects the progress made by our first responders and partner agencies in ensuring the safety of our community," Myerhoff said in a statement.

The city also announced that Pacific Coast Highway is fully open for traffic from Topanga Canyon to Kanan Dume Road.

"Residents returning to their homes in repopulation zones can do so with confidence that these areas have been thoroughly inspected by agencies and deemed safe," according to the city. "However, all residents are urged to remain cautious and follow instructions from public safety officials."

For the latest updates on the status of evacuations and road closures, the city urged people to visit the following websites:

• Evacuation Status
• Road Closures
• Recovery Information

Throughout Thursday, fire activity remained minimal, and no significant fire growth occurred, according to Cal Fire.

At a noon briefing on Thursday, Los Angeles County Fire Department Deputy Chief Eleni Pappas said authorities have conducted a preliminary assessment of some of the estimated 7,600 structures within the "fire footprint" area, which includes about 6,600 single-family homes.

Pappas said on Thursday that four homes were destroyed, six were damaged, and five smaller structures — such as sheds or other outbuildings — were destroyed. She noted that authorities had only surveyed a portion of the terrain, so the numbers could change.

On Thursday, Malibu spokeswoman Rebecca Nelson reported that damage inspectors listed 12 structures destroyed — six homes and six outbuildings — with 10 residences and one outbuilding damaged..

The blaze began shortly before 11 p.m. Monday in a Malibu Canyon area where a high volume of dry brush contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. It erupted in the midst of a rare "particularly dangerous situation red flag warning" issued by the National Weather Service in response to strong wind gusts and dramatically dry conditions.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Pepperdine University reported power outages and activated a shelter- in-place protocol early Tuesday morning. That order was lifted later that morning, although students and staff were urged to stay off the local roads.

Final exams at the university were postponed and campus operations were suspended, with much of the campus without power.

All Malibu schools within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District were closed Tuesday, and they remained closed through Friday due to continued restrictions in the area. The district's Santa Monica schools remained open.

The Santa Monica College Malibu Campus was also closed through Friday.

Southern California Edison officials began restoring power to several neighborhoods late Wednesday afternoon once the red flag warning was lifted, but some areas were still impacted.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger signed a local declaration of emergency in response to the fire early Tuesday morning. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist with the firefight.

"Fire officials and first responders are working relentlessly to protect lives and property from the Franklin Fire," Newsom said in a statement. "California is grateful for this federal support, which bolsters these efforts. I urge all residents in affected areas to stay alert and follow evacuation orders."

City News Service