- विज्ञापन -
Los Angeles: A significant wildfire in Malibu, Southern California, has expanded to over 2,700 acres (10.9 square kilometers), leading to evacuations due to hazardous fire conditions.
The fire, named the Franklin Fire, was first reported on Monday night, originating near Malibu Creek State Park in Los Angeles County, according to Xinhua news agency.
In response to the high winds that can damage electrical infrastructure and ignite wildfires, power has been cut to tens of thousands of residents.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) has issued evacuation orders, and the affected area is closed to the public. Approximately 18,000 individuals, along with 8,100 homes and businesses, are under evacuation alerts, as stated by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. Several shelters have been established for those displaced.
“Widespread Red Flag conditions across much of Southern California due to Santa Ana Winds will continue to pose a threat to residents and property throughout the week,” Cal Fire warned.
Residents are advised to stay informed about weather and fire conditions and to be ready to evacuate if necessary. Currently, the fire remains active with no containment reported.
The Santa Ana Winds reached their peak strength on Tuesday morning, exacerbating the fire’s spread. Critical fire weather conditions are expected to persist at least until Wednesday, as indicated by the US National Weather Service (NWS). Significant improvements in wind and fire weather conditions are anticipated by Wednesday afternoon.
In light of the ongoing fire and safety issues, all Malibu schools were closed on Tuesday.
Over 60,000 customers in California are experiencing power outages, according to PowerOutage.us. The Pacific Coast Highway has been closed to all but evacuees between Carbon Canyon and Corral Canyon Road, as per Cal Fire.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone reported in a briefing on Tuesday that “a minimal number” of homes have been destroyed, and no serious injuries or fatalities have been reported thus far.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has secured a grant from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to aid in fire response efforts. A state of local emergency has also been declared in Los Angeles County due to “conditions of disaster” or “extreme peril to the safety of persons and property,” according to Kathryn Barger, chair of the county board of supervisors.
