Written by Daniel Cole
MALIBU, Calif. (Reuters) – Firefighters on Wednesday, aided by wind and favorable weather, made progress in containing a wildfire in the California beach community of Malibu, where 6,300 people evacuated their homes while schools and businesses closed.
About 2,000 firefighters are battling the Franklin Fire, which has burned more than 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares) since it began on Monday, destroying nine buildings and damaging six others, officials said. It was 7% contained as of Wednesday night.
Dusty Martin, assistant fire chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), said the rugged and steep terrain northwest of Los Angeles prevented firefighters from reaching much of the blaze, which will take several more days to contain.
“We saw the weather moderate, which allowed us to have a lot of success around the fire today,” Martin said at a news conference. “It will likely take several days to contain it because of the current terrain that is out there.”
Firefighters focused their efforts on a valley where helicopters dropped water. Nearby a group stood taking a break, their faces streaked with crusty dust before dark.
Officials lifted the red flag warning that was in place to inform people of the extreme risks of rapid fire growth.
The exclusive city of Malibu is home to many celebrities in the secluded hills above the Pacific Ocean about 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Los Angeles.
Among the evacuees was actor Dick Van Dyke, who turns 99 on Friday, and said on social media that he and his wife were evacuated safely, along with their pets — except for an animal named Bobo who was missing.
About 22,000 people were affected by the fire, said Captain Jennifer Seto of the Los Angeles County Police Department.
No deaths or injuries have been reported, and the cause of the accident remains under investigation, officials said.
