Malibu's Franklin Fire Burns Over 4,000 Acres as Evacuations Continue

Improved weather conditions aid firefighters, but steep terrain and safety concerns keep thousands displaced.

The Franklin fire in Malibu has burned over 4,000 acres since it started late Monday night, with containment reaching 7% as of Wednesday evening.
More than 6,300 residents remain under evacuation orders, including celebrities and students sheltering at Pepperdine University, while shelters have been set up for displaced people and animals.
The fire has destroyed nine structures and damaged six others, with crews still surveying the affected area; no injuries or fatalities have been reported.
Firefighters are battling challenging terrain and using fire-retardant drops and hand lines to contain the blaze, while utility companies have preemptively cut power to thousands of homes to reduce fire risks.
Cooler temperatures, calmer winds, and potential rainfall in the coming days are expected to assist firefighting efforts, though the fire's cause remains under investigation.