Thousands of Southern California residents evacuated in Malibu's Franklin Fire

The fire has spread to 2,800 acres so far, and no cause has been identified. No injuries or fatalities have also been reported.

By Misty Severi

Published: December 10, 2024 10:36pm

Thousands of residents in Southern California were forced to evacuate on Tuesday, after a major wind-driven wildfire burned in Malibu and threatened the homes of multiple celebrities, as well as Pepperdine University.

The fire, dubbed the "Franklin Fire" is at zero percent containment at the time of publishing, but meteorologists said the worst of the wind has passed, per the Associated Press. The fire has spread to at least 2,800 acres so far, and no cause has been identified. No injuries or fatalities have also been reported so far.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said that a preliminary assessment estimates that seven structures have been destroyed so far, and eight have been damaged. Officials at Pepperdine University said the campus has been singed but no part of it has been destroyed. All final exams and classes were cancelled for Tuesday.

Comedian and actor Dick Van Dyke said he was forced to evacuate from his Malibu mansion with his wife, and their pets, but they are all safe except for one pet cat that escaped.

"Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” Van Dyke said. “We’re praying he’ll be OK and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.”

Other celebrities who had homes impacted by the fire includes Cher, Star Wars' Mark Hamill, and Barbara Streisand, according to ABC-7. Hamill said that he was going into lockdown.

"I'm not allowed to leave the house, which fits in perfectly with my elderly-recluse lifestyle," the 73-year-old actor joked on Instagram.

Marrone said that dangerous fire conditions are expected to last until at least 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday. Red flag warnings have also been issued for other parts of Southern California, including in San Luis Obispo County and San Diego County, the Washington Post reported.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.