Malibu wildfire destroys homes, forces 6,300 people to evacuate

The wind whips embers from the trees while a firefighter works as the Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, California, U.S., December 10, 2024. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu/ File Photo

MALIBU, California (Reuters) -Aided by favorable winds and weather, firefighters on Wednesday progressed in containing a wildfire in the beach community of Malibu, California, where 6,300 people evacuated their homes as schools and businesses shut their doors.

Nearly 2,000 firefighters were battling the Franklin Fire, which scorched more than 4,000 acres (1,620 hectares) since it began on Monday and has destroyed nine buildings and damaged six others, officials said. It was 7% contained as of Wednesday night.