Franklin Fire Reaches 100% Containment

MALIBU, CA — Despite the return of Santa Ana winds, firefighters were able to prevent the Franklin Fire from spreading as the 4,037-acre blaze reached 100% containment by Thursday morning.

Cool weather, higher humidity and a dying-out of strong winds had aided firefighters in their fight most recently. Santa Ana winds — which fanned the fire's explosive growth last week — returned Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

Crews contended with sustained winds and gusts of 30 to 50 mph and lower humidity. Despite that, containment of the fire went from 89% Wednesday morning to 100% Thursday morning.

A Red Flag warning was scheduled to be in place until 6 p.m. Wednesday, but the winds died down earlier than expected, and the National Weather Service lifted the warning at around 3 p.m.

This week, firefighters concentrated on strengthening control lines in steep, rugged terrain, mop-up and patrol around structures and stabilizing fire lines to prevent erosion, according to Cal Fire.

As of Wednesday afternoon, fewer than 1,000 SCE customers throughout Los Angeles County had their power cut by Southern California Edison as a precautionary measure, including some in the Malibu fire area.

The Franklin Fire broke out before 11 p.m. Dec. 9 as a 5-acre brush fire in Malibu Canyon, north of Malibu Crest Road and south of Francisco Ranch Road, near Pepperdine University and the Malibu Civic Center, according to sheriff's officials. By the next morning, the fire exploded to more than 2,200 acres and within 12 hours grew to 3,049 acres, according to Cal Fire.

City News Service contributed to this report.