MALIBU (CNS) – Firefighters battling the Franklin Fire in Malibu are preparing for the return of Santa Ana winds Tuesday with containment of the 4.037- acre wildfire at 63%.
Firefighters have made steady progress on the destructive wildfire that erupted Dec. 9, thanks to cool weather, higher humidity and the absence of strong winds that initially fueled the blaze. But crews were bracing for a forecasted return of Santa Ana winds on Tuesday and Wednesday. Forecasters noted that the winds could affect the Franklin Fire burn area, with gusts of up to 60 mph possible in some locations.
The city will open a Local Assistance Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at Malibu City Hall, 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, providing residents with information and available resources for fire recovery.
Utility officials are monitoring circuits in the Malibu area for potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs. Southern California Edison issued a PSPS monitoring notice for circuits including Cuthbert, Maguire, Merlin and Serra, due to high winds expected Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday evening.
On Monday, four water-dropping helicopters were assigned to the firefighting effort to douse hot spots in areas of Malibu Canyon too steep for people to work, officials said.
“Fire activity remained minimal with smoldering and creeping in isolated areas within the fire perimeter,” Cal Fire said Monday.
“Fire crews will continue to build and strengthen containment lines around the fire,” the Cal Fire statement said. “The fire continues to smolder in steep and very dangerous terrain. Aerial suppression efforts in those areas have been successful in keeping the fire subdued.”
All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted. At the height of the fire, roughly 20,000 people were under either evacuation orders or warnings.
Teams have completed the damage inspections, and reported 20 structures destroyed and 28 structures damaged, according to Cal Fire.
At 8 p.m. Sunday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced that all road closures and restrictions were lifted. The public was advised to check for intermittent closures while the restoration work continued.
Students returned Monday to Malibu Elementary School, Malibu Middle School and Malibu High School. Webster Elementary School remained closed, with its students ordered to report to Malibu Elementary for classes Tuesday while their campus is repaired.
All Malibu schools within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District were closed last week due to traffic restrictions and power outages in the area caused by the fire.
The Santa Monica College Malibu Campus was also closed through Friday.
The blaze began shortly before 11 p.m. Dec. 9 in a Malibu Canyon area where a high volume of dry brush contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. It erupted in the midst of a rare “particularly dangerous situation red flag warning” issued by the National Weather Service in response to strong wind gusts and dramatically dry conditions. The cause was still under investigation.
City officials also said Saturday that all Malibu parks were open, except Malibu Bluffs Park, Temporary Skate Park and Pool.
Officials said residents affected by the fire can receive assistance by calling 800-675-5799.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger signed a local declaration of emergency in response to the fire early last week. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist with the firefight.
“Fire officials and first responders are working relentlessly to protect lives and property from the Franklin Fire,” Newsom said in a statement. “California is grateful for this federal support, which bolsters these efforts.”
More information about the Franklin Fire is posted at malibucity.org/franklinfire.
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