Malibu's Franklin Fire is now 35% contained
After raging for days, the Franklin Fire in Malibu is now 35% contained, with more than 4,000 acres continuing to smolder in rough terrain. CalFire provided KNX Newsradio’s Nataly Tavidian with an update on the fire Saturday.
According to CalFire, the blaze began Monday, when strong winds caused it to grow thousands of acres within the span of a day. Evacuation orders were issued and had been downgraded to warnings as of Saturday afternoon, Tavidian reported.
Inspection teams were out in Malibu Saturday. They confirmed that 19 structures were destroyed and two dozen were damaged. Tavidian reported that choppers were refilling at Pepperdine University.
Since steep terrain in the fire’s path is difficult to access, teams on the ground put out smoldering spots to prevent any flare ups from happening in Monte Nido. Though parts of the area are still smoldering, there were no visible flames. Officials still warned people in the vicinity of the fire to take precautions.
Edwin Zuniga offered some tips for dealing with the fire and its aftermath.
“Make sure you have a mask, because you’re breathing in toxic chemicals,” he said. Zuniga also warned that burned down properties are toxic zones and people should wear full coverage clothing when in the area.
He also encourages people to document everything before cleaning up, Tavidian added.
Malibu Canyon Road remained closed Saturday due to reports of sliding boulders. So far, a timeline for its reopening isn’t clear.
Check back for more updates.
