Dick Van Dyke and Cher forced to evacuate Franklin fire in Malibu
Actor Dick Van Dyke and musician Cher were among thousands of residents ordered to evacuate from the city of Malibu after a fast-moving wildfire broke out and burned acres of land in an affluent part of the Los Angeles area.
Authorities dubbed the blaze the “Franklin Fire” and said it started in Malibu Canyon around 22:50 local time (07:50 GMT) on Monday and has so far destroyed at least seven homes.
Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for large areas of Malibu. There were no reports of injuries, but the fire was still at zero containment as of Tuesday evening.
It’s unclear what caused the fires, but red flag warnings have been issued for the area, meaning conditions are ripe for extreme fires.
More than 3,000 acres have burned so far, according to the latest update from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
The fires left behind burned-out cars and buses and the charred remains of homes.
Malibu is popular with celebrities. According to reports, the homes of celebrities including Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Jay Z are also included in the evacuation zone.
Van Dijk said in a Facebook post that he was one of the stars forced to flee.
The “Mary Poppins Returns” star, who would have turned 99 on Friday, said he and his wife, Arlene, made it safely away with their pets, except for a cat named Bobo, who is still missing.
“We pray that he is doing well and that our community at Serra Retreat survives this horrific fire,” he wrote on Facebook.
Witnesses told KABC-TV that the actor’s neighbor’s home was on fire, but that Decker’s home was not affected.
Singer Cher also had to escape the fire, The New York Times reported.
Barbra Streisand is another famous Malibu resident, but her publicist told the New York Times it’s unclear whether she has evacuated.
Getty ImagesSchools in the area have been closed, roads have been closed and local power has been cut to prevent the fire from getting worse.
Meanwhile, evacuation centers have been opened for residents and animals. According to Cal Fire, more than 5,000 people were in evacuation zones.
Fire breaks out near Pepperdine University.
The college had directed students to shelter in place but later rescinded that order.
Officials continue to encourage students to stay on the oceanside campus as nearby roads are closed for fire crews.
Pepperdine said power is expected to remain shut off to much of campus and the wider region for the “foreseeable future.”
Video showed students taking shelter in the library as a wall of flames approached on Monday night.
Firefighters used water hoses to put out the fire. Pepperdine University reported minor damage to the campus, but no students or staff were injured.
Wildfires in California have the ability to burn tens of thousands of acres of vegetation due to the dry conditions typical of the region.
The Franklin Fire was relatively small in comparison but spread quickly.
Malibu authorities initially said the fire started about 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) north of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), an iconic highway along the Pacific Ocean known for its breathtaking scenery, but it quickly spread to Spreading south, across the highway into the city of Malibu. Malibu Marina area.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said the evacuation order covers areas east of Malibu Canyon Road, south of Cougar Road and the Sierra Recreation Area.
one fire map It is shown to be adjacent to council facilities, a school and a number of homes in the area – including a range of waterfront properties.
In an update Tuesday night, officials said they had to move their command center to Calabasas after a fire threatened City Hall.
Officials warn that seasonal Santa Ana winds are fueling the fires.
The latest incident comes a month after another fire broke out in another nearby city, Moorpark, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.
California is a state prone to wildfires. From 1996 to 2021, the area burned during summer in the northern and central parts of the state increased fivefold compared to the previous 24 years.
Scientists attribute this to climate change, although not all wildfires are directly related to this.
The science is complex, and human factors, including how we manage land and forests, also play a role.
However, scientists say climate change makes weather conditions such as heat and drought that lead to wildfires more likely.
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