The Franklin Fire in Los Angeles, California, which ignited late Monday night, continues to blaze and has now expanded to 3,983 acres, affecting much of Malibu and Pepperdine University. This has led to both evacuations and shelter-in-place directives.
Initially reported at 10:50 PM on Monday, the fire’s size increased by 39% overnight, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone, who spoke at a press conference on Wednesday morning.
Approximately 12,600 individuals are currently under evacuation orders due to the immediate threat posed by the fire, while around 7,382 people are under evacuation warnings for potential danger, as stated by Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna on Wednesday.
Overnight, the fire changed direction and rapidly advanced towards Pepperdine University. The university instructed students and staff to shelter in place but reported early Wednesday morning that the fire had “burned through most of the fuel immediately surrounding campus” and was now a reduced threat.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, as per the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The fire is currently 7% contained.