The Franklin Fire in Malibu shifted directions overnight and continues to burn Wednesday as it reaches 4,031 acres and is 7% contained. Thousands of households remain under evacuation orders.
In a Wednesday morning news conference, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said the fire increased in size overnight by 39%, most significantly on the western edge. He said flames began backing down into Corral Canyon, threatening the Malibu RV Park community. "Structure threats were mitigated and additional structures were damaged," he said.
"Fire activity increased significantly on the west side as it crossed Puerco Canyon Ridge and began backing down into Corral Canyon due to the winds and steep terrain," Cal Fire wrote on its website.
Overall, the number of structures damaged from the Franklin Fire increased to nine, while the number of structures destroyed remains at seven. Morrone said Wednesday's weather conditions, including strong winds and low humidity "will be closely monitored today as they will play a critical role in fire behavior."
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, said firefighters are aggressively working to control the fire along the perimeter and to protect structures. "The deep and rugged terrain, along with the strong winds and low humidity, continue to pose challenges for firefighters," the agency said Wednesday morning.
