General
Firefighters Begin Containing the Malibu Fire That Destroyed Several Homes
The Franklin fire grew to nearly 4,000 acres overnight as firefighters battled difficult conditions and steep terrain.
Firefighters in Southern California on Wednesday began to contain a fire that erupted in Malibu late Monday night and has burned nearly 4,000 acres, destroyed several structures and forced thousands to evacuate the area.
Overnight, firefighters were able to contain 7 percent of the Franklin fire after battling strong winds on Tuesday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Chief Anthony C. Marrone of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said at a news conference on Wednesday morning that officials were still assessing the full scope of the damage, but their preliminary reviews found that at least seven structures had been destroyed and nine had been damaged.
No injuries or deaths have been reported.
Nearly 20,000 residents were in the mandatory or voluntary evacuation zones, and officials urged them to continue to avoid the area until the fire was under control.
