A rapidly spreading wildfire in Malibu, California, exploded in size on Wednesday, Dec. 11, as thousands of people, including some celebrities, fled their homes. The Franklin Fire, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, grew from around 2,700 acres to nearly 4,000 acres overnight.
Officials report that at least 7,500 structures, mostly homes, are in harm’s way, and nearly 13,000 are under evacuation orders.
CalFire says more than 1,500 firefighters are battling the fire, but it remained only slightly contained as crews navigated the rugged terrain.
The fire has burned both homes and celebrity mansions, and at Pepperdine University, thousands of students sheltered in place on campus.
The fire erupted on Monday, Dec. 9, and quickly spread, forcing officials to shut down power to about 40,000 customers in the region to prevent electric equipment from sparking more flames.
So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported.
