Malibu fire updates: Franklin Fire rages, but some still 'love it here'

A fast-growing wildfire that set star-studded Malibu in Southern California ablaze has closed roads and sent residents fleeing as the fire exploded in size overnight and into Wednesday morning.

The Franklin Fire covered 3,983 acres as of Wednesday morning with 7% containment, according to CalFire. It was a 39% increase in acreage since Tuesday night. It was fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity, a dangerous combination prompting red flag warnings in the region through Wednesday.

"Fire activity increased significantly last night" along the western edge of the fire, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said in a Wednesday morning update.

Forecasters warn critical fire conditions will continue to fuel the fire on Wednesday. In a bit of good news, the forecast calls for conditions to improve in the evening.

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The flames, which threatened big-name celebrities' homes including Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke, were encroaching on an RV park community, officials said Wednesday. The fire department said that the fire also "spotted" across the iconic Pacific Coast Highway.

One restaurant owner told USA TODAY the flames came within a quarter mile of his business early Wednesday, but firefighters were able to prevent them from reaching it.

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"That still was a bit too close for comfort," said John Christensen, who owns Malibu Seafood Fresh Market and Patio Cafe.

Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said additional structures were damaged during the night, but it wasn't immediately clear how many of those were homes.

The fire was discovered Monday, just before 11 p.m. local time. The cause is under investigation.

Eye in the sky:Aerial video shows Franklin Fire threatening Malibu neighborhoods

Franklin Fire rages, but some still 'love it here'

John Christensen got a text Wednesday morning saying his business of 25 years, Malibu Seafood Fresh Market and Patio Cafe, might be in danger. He'd left the night before, making sure his generators were running, but the flames were still "way up high" on the hills.

He raced back, using an alternate route because parts of the Pacific Coast Highway were closed. Officers at checkpoints let him go through. When Christensen, 64, arrived, the structure was still standing. “Luckily,” he said.

Christensen said he and a couple of his staffers offered to feed the firefighters, “but they said they had to keep working."

Christensen said the last time his property was affected by a blaze was during the Woolsey Fire in 2018 when he lost some outdoor tables. The risk of wildfires there is worth it, Christensen said.

“This place is like a cat, it has nine lives, and is still here,” said Christensen about the restaurant. “We love it here.”

Mark Wain, co-owner of the Cafe Luxxe, a coffee shop also located on the PCH, shares a similar sentiment.

“The Malibu community is awesome, not just because of the scenery, but also because the people are so close-knit and willing to help each other,” said Wain, 51, who has co-owned the Malibu location since 2015. “It’s definitely worth being here.”

Red flag conditions in Malibu to last through Wednesday afternoon

Malibu's red flag warning – which is issued by the National Weather Service when conditions are ideal for fire to spread due to warm temperatures, very low humidities and stronger winds – will expire Wednesday at 2 p.m., the weather service said.

The Santa Ana winds fueling the fire are expected to weaken throughout the day and end by evening.

Meanwhile, the valleys and mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties were mostly under red flag warnings that will last until Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Smoke prompts air quality alert for areas around LA

Harmful amounts of fine particles caused by smoke filled the air Wednesday as the Franklin Fire raged.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an air quality alert through 5 p.m. on Wednesday for Malibu, Northwest coastal Los Angeles County, parts of the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles and other nearby areas.

People are urged to stay inside and keep windows closed, use an air purifier if possible, avoid any strenuous activity outside and turn off any house fans that bring in outdoor air. Anyone who must go outside should wear a well-fitting N95 mask, officials said.

The particles from smoke can be breathed into the lungs and cause health impacts including heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks and difficulty breathing. Anyone can be affected, but the effects may especially impact people with certain health conditions, the elderly, children, those who are pregnant and people who work outdoors.

How many homes have burned?

Preliminary reports say that seven structures have been destroyed, and nine were damaged, Marrone said Wednesday morning at a news conference.

"Our thoughts are with all those affected by this devastating event," the City of Malibu said in an update..

Marrone said Tuesday that the number of homes impacted so far was minimized thanks to the work of firefighters.

Stretch of iconic Pacific Coast Highway among road closures

A stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway, known for stunning ocean views along a 21-mile strip of coastline in Malibu, is among several Malibu roads impacted by closures as the Franklin Fire burns.

A roughly 5-mile stretch between Carbon Canyon and Corral Canyon Road was only open to only people actively evacuating on Wednesday, according to Cal-Fire.

Multiple other roads around the fire were either totally closed or open only to residents fleeing the fire.

"This is not to inconvenience you. It is for your safety" and to keep areas clear for first responders, said Sheriff Robert Luna at a news conference Wednesday morning.

Forecast says more Santa Ana winds up to 50 mph in Southern California

Wednesday will be another dangerous day for fire weather in Southern California, forecasters warned: "A strong Santa Ana event will continue to bring widespread critical to extremely critical fire weather conditions to many areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Wednesday," the National Weather Service said in an online forecast.

"Peak gusts of 40 to 50 mph will affect most wind-prone coastal and valley areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Wednesday morning," the weather service said. "With the threat of these strong wind gusts in these windier corridors, there will be an increased risk for downed tree limbs and powerlines, along with power outages."

There is some good news on the horizon: Winds and other fire weather conditions will begin to improve significantly by later in the day.

"Conditions are likely to improve by this afternoon or evening," the weather service said. "All Red Flag Warnings are set to expire by 6 pm today."

What are the Santa Ana winds?

Santa Ana winds, one of the nation's most notorious wind events and an annual weather hazard in Southern California, have helped fuel the destructive wildfire in Malibu.

The winds, which occur most often in the fall and winter, push dry air from over the inland deserts of California and the Southwest toward the coast. Santa Anas blow over the mountains between the deserts and coastal California. As the wind comes down the mountains, it's compressed and warms up.

As the air warms, its relative humidity also drops, sometimes to less than 20% or even less than 10%. The extremely low humidity helps dry out vegetation, making it a better fuel for fires.

"Nowhere else do such winds impact so many people with so much force and possess such extensive opportunity for damage and destruction," the National Weather Service has said. Read more.

Celebrities' homes threatened, including Mark Hamill, Dick Van Dyke

Neighborhoods threatened by the fire are under mandatory evacuation.

Van Dyke, who will turn 99 on Friday, said in a Facebook post that he safely evacuated his home. "Star Wars" icon Mark Hamill, 73, said he is in lockdown and sheltering in place.

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"I'm not allowed to leave the house, which fits in perfectly with my elderly-recluse lifestyle," Hamill joked.

Cher and Barbra Streisand also live in the area, reported the New York Times. Cher's publicist told the publication that she and her pets evacuated to a hotel on Monday.

Homes in the Malibu area have been damaged by wildfires over the years, and celebrities have been among those impacted. In 2018, the massive Woolsey Fire made headlines for burning homes belonging to Miley Cyrus, Neil Young, and Gerard Butler.

Franklin Fire Map

In about 12 hours, the fire grew from 2,862 acres to 3,983 acres, according to CalFire.