Franklin, Malibu

Franklin, Los Angeles County Fire Department. IMT 1 (Cal Fire Team 4). Malibu, CA. Chaparral, brush and hardwood slash. Minimal fire behavior with creeping and smoldering.

December 18, 2024 at 5:52 PM

The fire is now 100% contained.

December 18, 2024 at 9:50 AM

Moderate Santa Ana winds with gusts of 35-50 MPH will develop today and continue into Wednesday, paired with low humidity. A RED FLAG WARNING is in effect from 3:00 PM today until 6:00 PM Wednesday.

Firefighters are focused on:

• Strengthening control lines in steep, rugged terrain.
• Mop-up and patrol around structures.
• Stabilizing fire lines to prevent erosion.

A Watershed Emergency Response Team has been ordered to assess potential hazards.

Safety Reminder: Stay alert to changing fire conditions please use caution while driving in the affected areas due to fire personnel and equipment still working in the area.

December 16, 2024 at 8:16 AM

All Evacuation Warnings have been lifted. Fire activity remained minimal with smoldering and creeping in isolated areas within the fire perimeter.

Fire crews will continue to build and strengthen containment lines around the fire. 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.

Damage inspections have been completed. Fire suppression repair being done to prevent erosion.

December 15, 2024 at 8:59 AM

Fire activity continued to decrease as the combination of fire suppression efforts and cool, moist weather worked to reduce areas of remaining heat within the fire.

Fire crews will continue to build and strengthen containment lines around the fire. 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.

Cooler weather, higher humidities, as well as the absence of strong winds have assisted firefighting efforts. Damage inspections are ongoing. Priority remains to repopulate evacuated areas as quickly and efficiently safe to do so.

December 13, 2024 at 8:59 PM

All evacuation orders have been reduced or lifted.

Evacuation Warnings

MAL-C111-A, MAL-C112-A, MAL-C112-B, MAL-C112-C, MAL-C112-D, MAL-C112-E, MAL-C113-D, MCR-U021A-A, MCR-U021A-B, RMB-U030, SDP-U029-A, VST-U022-B

Fire activity remained minimal today with no significant fire growth.

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.

Cooler weather, higher humidities, as well as the absence of strong winds have assisted firefighting efforts. Damage inspections are ongoing. Priority remains to repopulate evacuated areas as quickly and efficiently safe to do so.

December 13, 2024 at 8:03 AM

Fire activity overnight remained minimal, and no significant fire growth occurred. 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.

Cooler weather, higher humidities, as well as the absence of strong winds have assisted firefighting efforts. Damage inspections are ongoing. Priority remains to repopulate evacuated areas as quickly and efficiently safe to do so.

Please use caution while driving in the affected areas due to fire personnel and equipment still working in the area.

December 12, 2024 at 6:51 PM

Throughout the day, fire activity remained minimal, and no significant fire growth occurred. 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.

Cooler weather, higher humidities, as well as the absence of strong winds have assisted firefighting efforts. Damage inspections are ongoing. Priority remains to repopulate evacuated areas as quickly and efficiently safe to do so.

Please use caution while driving in the affected areas due to fire personnel and equipment still working in the area.

December 12, 2024 at 7:53 AM

Firefighters are making steady progress as relative humidity is expected to increase overnight, and weak northeasterly winds will persist into the evening.  Crews are actively balancing structure defense with efforts to establish and reinforce the fire’s perimeter control. Moderate fire behavior with uphill runs, flanking and backing overnight.

The Damage Inspection Specialist (DINS) team is conducting evaluations, with preliminary numbers indicating:
    •    6 structures damaged
    •    9 structures destroyed

Topanga Canyon Open, PCH closed from Topanga to Kanan. Evacuation Orders and Warnings remain in place. Power restored to Malibu and all signals functioning.

Evacuation Orders remain in place for the following areas:

Mandatory Evacuation Order (MAL-C113A, C112, C111)
South of Piuma Road, north of the Pacific Ocean coastline, east of Puerco Canyon Road/Corral Canyon Park, west of Los Flores Canyon Road, Between the Pacific Ocean coastline and Tuna Canyon Park to the west of Tuna Canyon Road

Evacuation Warning (C113C MAL-C113B, KAN-U017)
East of Trancas Canyon Road and Kanan Dune Road, west of Topanga Canyon Blvd/Surfview Drive, south of Mulholland Highway, north of Evacuation Order boundary. Includes Topanga Zone 8 and 10

Shelter Open and Active: Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), 2802 4th Street, Santa Monica (crated small animals accepted).

For Animals:
Small animals: Agoura Animal Shelter (29525 Agoura Rd.)
Large animals: Pierce College (6201 Winnetka Ave.)

SMMUSD reports that all Malibu Schools will remain closed Thursday 12/12 at this time.

December 11, 2024 at 8:40 PM

Fire activity was diminished compared to previous period. Minor fire growth was observed to the north, east, and west. Limited uphill runs were observed. Air and ground resources were effective with direct attack operations.

Planned Actions:

• Construct direct and indirect control lines to limit northern and eastern fire progression.
• Create defensible space and implement other defensible measures to reduce adverse fire impact to the values at risk.
• Scout for potential locations to construct secondary and tertiary control lines to limit the fire progression.
• Mop up 100′ from control lines.
• Conduct tactical patrol around structures.
• Continue direct line construction from Highway 1 North towards Puerco Motorway.
• Coordinate with Resource Advisors to limit impacts to environmentally sensitive areas.

December 11, 2024 at 7:24 PM

SCE has restored power to the Merlin, Cuthbert and Maguire Circuits in Malibu. PSPS power outages continue in other areas of Malibu. Merlin – Latigo Cyn – Malibu Lagoon, 2-4 miles inland. Galahad – Approximately the western edge of Point Dume to Point Mugu and two to four miles inland. Maguire – North of Point Dume, approximately from Decker Rd eastward to Winding Way and about three miles inland. See outage status: www.sce.com/psps

Due to the Franklin Fire and PCH closure, trash service is suspended from Topanga Canyon to Kanan Dume Road.

December 11, 2024 at 2:10 PM

Yesterday, crews continued to aggressively fight the fire with air and ground operations. On the north end, the fire remained south of Piuma Road. Fire activity increased significantly on the west side as it crossed Puerco Canyon Ridge and began backing down into Corral Canyon due to the winds and steep terrain. On the south side, the fire spotted across Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu Road. Crews worked on structure protection, and on mitigating any threats to structures. On the east side of the fire, which consists of very steep and rugged terrain, crews continued strengthening containment lines with retardant drops and the construction of handlines to connect gaps.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Malibu Coast and Ventura Coastal Plain, particularly in the foothill areas, until 2 p.m. today. A powerful and prolonged Santa Ana wind event is expected to bring critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions across much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties from today through Wednesday. This will be driven by a combination of a strong offshore pressure gradient, significant cold air advection, and moderate upper-level wind support. 

Today, CAL FIRE Incident Management Team 4 assumed command at approximately 10 a.m. The Los Angeles County Fire Department will remain engaged throughout the transition and until the fire is contained.

December 11, 2024 at 1:57 PM

Multiple time-lapse videos captured on ALERTCalifornia’s cameras of the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Los Angeles County, CA. These clips show the fire behavior for approximately 24 hours starting at 6:20 a.m. on December 10, 2024. The time-lapses have been sped up.

December 11, 2024 at 11:26 AM

City of Malibu update:

The Franklin Fire has now burned 3,983 acres and remains at 7% containment. Preliminary reports indicate that seven structures have been destroyed, and eight have been damaged. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating event.

Mandatory Evacuation Order (MAL-C113A, C112, C111)
South of Piuma Road, north of the Pacific Ocean coastline, east of Puerco Canyon Road/Corral Canyon Park, west of Los Flores Canyon Road, Between the Pacific Ocean coastline and Tuna Canyon Park to the west of Tuna Canyon Road

Evacuation Warning (C113C MAL-C113B, KAN-U017)
East of Trancas Canyon Road and Kanan Dune Road, west of Topanga Canyon Blvd/Surfview Drive, south of Mulholland Highway, north of Evacuation Order boundary. Includes Topanga Zone 8 and 10

Shelters Open and Active

Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), 2802 4th Street, Santa Monica (crated small animals accepted).

Calabasas Community Center. (27040 Malibu Hills Rd.)

For Animals:

Small animals: Agoura Animal Shelter (29525 Agoura Rd.)

Large animals: Pierce College (6201 Winnetka Ave.)

Road Closures

Soft until end of Red flag Event at 6 PM

Topanga Canyon at PCH to Mulholland Drive

Old Topanga to Mulholland Hwy

Hard Closures

Las Virgenes at Mulholland Hwy

PCH Topanga to Kanan

Malibu Canyon

Mulholland and Cold Canyon

Saddle peak at Tuna

Mulholland at Stunt Road

Resources and Response

Over 1,500 firefighters and 13 federal, state, and local agencies are actively responding to this incident. Their efforts are critical to protecting our community, and we thank them for their tireless bravery and dedication.

Communication and Information

We recognize that cellular communication remains an issue.

December 11, 2024 at 8:15 AM

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Malibu Coast and Ventura Coastal Plain, particularly in foothill areas, until 2am today due to Santa Ana winds and very low humidity. Fire activity increased significantly last night as the fire crossed Puerco Canyon Ridge and began backing down into Corral Canyon, threatening the Malibu RV Park community. It also spotted across Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu Road, posing a threat to nearby communities.

Structure threats in the area were mitigated, though one outbuilding sustained damage. Extreme fire behavior, combined with a prolonged burn period, has complicated suppression efforts. Containment lines were strengthened with retardant drops and the construction of handlines to connect gaps. Focus efforts are on protecting property, improvements, and critical infrastructure while implementing and clearly communicating an effective evacuation and repopulation plan.

Per the City of Malibu: The City has set up an Emergency Information and Supplies Station at Zuma Beach, offering updates, food, water, first aid assistance.
Road Closure Status:

Hard Closures:
PCH from Kanan to Topanga
Malibu Canyon Road at Mulholland Highway to Pacific Coast Highway
Las Virgenes Road at Mulholland Highway to Pacific Coast Highway

Soft Closures:
Pacific Coast Highway closed between Carbon Canyon and Corral Canyon Road (Open to only those actively evacuating the area)
Old Topanga Canyon Road at Mulholland Highway to Topanga Canyon Boulevard (Open to residents)

Evacuations:

Mandatory Evacuation Order:
Areas east of Latigo Canyon, west of Topanga Beach Driveway, and south of Baller Motorway, including the Big Rock and Las Flores Communities.

Evacuation Warning:
Areas east of Trancas, south of Hidden Highlands Road, and west of Crestline Drive. Residents in these areas should remain ready to evacuate if conditions worsen.

Shelters Open and Active:

Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD), 2802 4th Street, Santa Monica (crated small animals accepted).
Calabasas Community Center. (27040 Malibu Hills Rd.)

For Animals:
Small animals: Agoura Animal Shelter (29525 Agoura Rd.)
Large animals: Pierce College (6201 Winnetka Ave.)

SoCal Edison crews have begun inspections on limited circuits for possible re-energization.

December 10, 2024 at 8:38 PM

CAL Fire IMT 4 will transition tomorrow morning 12/11/2024. Unified command CAL Fire and LA County Fire.

7,559 structures remain threatened. Active fire behavior with spotting and wind-driven runs.

Planned Actions:

• Construct direct and indirect control lines to limit northern and eastern fire progression.
• Create defensible space and implement other defensible measures to reduce adverse fire impact to the values at risk.
• Scout for potential locations to construct secondary and tertiary control lines to limit the fire progression.

December 10, 2024 at 6:18 PM

LA County Animal Control response to Franklin Fire

DACC wants to assure the public we have mobilized and are responding to the incident for animal sheltering and evacuation assistance. We stand ready to respond to this evolving emergency, with the health and safety of our pets, staff, and the communities we serve as our top priority.

“DACC is committed to protecting animals during emergencies,” said DACC Director Marcia Mayeda. “Animals are family members, and we are here to ensure they are safe until they can return to their homes. “

The Agoura Animal Care Center located at 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura, is prepared to receive small animal evacuations.

Pierce College located at 6201 Winnetka Avenue, Woodland Hills, has been activated and is staffed to assist with the sheltering of large animals.

If you are located in an evacuation warning or mandatory evacuation area, DACC urges you to plan ahead and give yourself enough time to safely leave the area, including the time to load and evacuate your animals.

December 10, 2024 at 1:17 PM

Latest mapping flight shows the Franklin Fire at 2,713 acres.

Federal air and ground resources assigned. A Red Flag Warning remains in effect over the area.

December 10, 2024 at 11:14 AM

Mapping has been updated and the fire is now 2,593 acres.

Line 134: Bus service is cancelled until further notice due to the fire.

December 10, 2024 at 9:30 AM

Additional info on road closures:

Pacific Coast Highway closed between Topanga Canyon Blvd and Kanan Dume Road. Will only be open those actively evacuating the area
Los Virgenes Road at Mulholland Highway

Pets in crates welcome at the Evacuation Shelter at Palisades Recreation Center – 851 Alma Real Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

December 10, 2024 at 7:22 AM

Per SMMUSD: Due to the ongoing fire and safety concerns, all Malibu schools are closed today, December 10, until further notice. Authorities are urging residents and visitors to stay clear of the area, as the fire continues to pose a significant threat.

The Regional Administrator for FEMA Region IX approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Franklin Fire threatening the City of Malibu, California (pop. 10k). The fire is burning on public and private land and is threatening transportation infrastructure and Pepperdine University.

Evacuation Orders
An immediate threat to life. This is an order by law enforcement to leave immediately. The area is lawfully closed to public access.

MAL-C111, MAL-C112, MCR-U021A, RMB-U030, SDP-U029-A

Shelter in place
All community members on the Pepperdine University Malibu campus are directed to shelter in place in the Tyler Campus Center or Payson Library per Pepperdine University

Evacuation Warnings
A potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave immediately.

MAL-C113, MCR-U021-B, MTN-U028, SDP-U029-B, SSM-U010, TOP-U008, VST-U022

Road Closures
Pacific Coast Highway is closed, except for evacuations, between Topanga Canyon Blvd and Corral Canyon Road

Temporary Evacuation Points:

Palisades Recreation Center – 851 Alma Real Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Animal Shelters:

Small Animals: Agoura Animal Care Center – 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, CA 91301
Large Animals: Pierce College: 6201 Winnetka Ave, Woodland Hills, CA 91367