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The mandatory evacuation orders for the Franklin Fire were downgraded on Thursday to voluntary evacuation orders, allowing those who evacuated to finally return home.

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- Firefighters are battling a wind-driven brush fire in Malibu that prompted evacuation orders and warnings for much of the city and caused Pepperdine University students to shelter in place on campus for two nights.

The Franklin Fire was reported just before 11 p.m. Monday in the area of Malibu Canyon Road north of Pacific Coast Highway. The blaze has since grown to 4,037 acres and containment stands at 30%.

At least nine structures were reported destroyed and another six damaged as of Wednesday evening. The cause of the fire is unknown.

A real-time map provided by fire officials showed the perimeter and evacuation areas of the massive Franklin Fire.

The map on the Los Angeles County Fire Department website reflected the mandatory evacuation order that covered the area east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road, as well as the Serra Retreat area.

Fire officials said the voluntary evacuation order area encompassed about 6,000 people and more than 2,000 structures. The evacuation warning area covered 12,500 people and more than 6,000 structures.

Voluntary mandatory evacuations

Evacuation warnings

MAP: Franklin Fire in Malibu evacuations

Road closures

Soft closures: Open only to residents with identification

Hard closures:

Related story: Malibu fire road closures

Evacuation centers

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, effective immediately, the mandatory evacuation orders will be downgraded to voluntary evacuation orders, allowing those who evacuated to finally return home.

The county fire department will also be giving a live update on its YouTube page at 6 p.m.

Several road closures remain in effect. For the latest information on evacuations, shelters, and road closures, click here.

Containment increased to 30%

The Franklin Fire in Malibu remains at 4,037 acres, but Cal Fire officials said on Thursday that containment has increased to 30%.

After assessing the damage, so far, officials say a total of nine structures have been destroyed, which includes four homes and five smaller structures, like sheds.

Cal Fire officials say the Franklin Fire's size remains at 4,037 acres, but the containment has increased to 20%.

Southern California Edison announced power has been restored to customers and traffic signals are working again.

The Franklin Fire has destroyed nine structures and damaged another six, though only 25% of the area had been surveyed, fire officials said during a press conference Wednesday evening.

The blaze has grown to 4,035 acres with 7% containment. Officials said they are working to reopen roads and lift evacuation orders.

WATCH: Officials provide update on Franklin Fire

The Franklin Fire has destroyed nine structures and damaged another six, fire officials said during a press conference Wednesday evening.

Firefighters had "a lot of success" battling the blaze Wednesday thanks to the improving weather, but it continued to burn in an area of very steep terrain that is difficult to access, CalFire Assistant Chief Dusty Martin said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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 Franklin wildfire in Malibu that's charred nearly 4,000 acres this week.

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, the National Weather Service said.

They blow when high pressure builds over the Great Basin (the high plateau east of the Sierra Nevada), according to meteorologist Jan Null of Golden Gate Weather Services. Santa Anas then blow over the mountains between the deserts and coastal California. As the wind comes down the mountains, it's compressed and warms up.

Dryness provides better fuel for fires

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.

Many of the winds that blow down mountain slopes in California are also named for their locale, according to Null. In addition to Santa Anas in southern California, northern California has the Diablo winds. These northeast winds tend to blow through the Diablo Range, which runs north-south on the east side of the San Francisco Bay.

Red flag warning issued

This current outbreak of gusty Santa Ana winds and dry conditions prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for portions of southern California this week. Red flags signal dangerous weather conditions where wildfires can spark and spread unpredictably. Fire departments bring on additional staff while the warnings are in play.

Long fire season in California

Although Santa-Ana driven wildfires are a natural part of California’s landscape, the fire season in the state and across the West is starting earlier and ending later, according to CalFire.

Climate change is a key driver of the trend, CalFire said. Warmer spring and summer temperatures, reduced snowpack and earlier spring snowmelt create longer and more intense dry seasons that increase moisture stress on vegetation and make forests more susceptible to severe wildfires.

karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com | The San Diego Union-Tribune

San Diego County edged closer to drought Tuesday, whipped by fierce and damaging Santa Ana winds that further dried out a region that hasn’t gotten a long, deep soaking of rain since March.

The wind storm — which toppled big rigs on Interstate 8, fanned wildfires and canceled school in 10 rural districts — might be followed by weak Santa Anas on Sunday and again next Tuesday, the National Weather Service said.

There might be some brief drizzle Thursday. But forecast models suggest the region will otherwise be mostly dry until Christmas Eve, and perhaps all the way to New Year’s Eve. The jet stream is likely to prevent big storms up north from dipping into Southern California.

“After the hot summer (we had), it could be a really slow start to the winter,” said Alex Tardy, a weather service forecaster.

Santa Ana winds usually arrive from the north-northeast, which isn’t conducive for funneling them all the way to the coast. But Tuesday’s winds largely came from the east and followed a fairly clear path almost all the way to the ocean.

RELATED: How gusty winds are whipping the wildfire in Malibu and how long they will last

They squeezed through mountain passes that helped them gain speed.

“It’s like when you put your thumb over the end of a garden hose,” said John Suk, a weather service forecaster. “The water flows faster, then goes down not far away.”

That effect was on display on Viejas Mountain, where winds whipped the peak’s western flank Tuesday morning, rattling bushes near the 4,187-foot summit. Below in nearby Alpine, there was only a mild breeze.

Sill Hill near Ramona reported a gust to 95 mph — just 1 mph shy of the force of a Category 2 hurricane. It was the highest gust reported Tuesday across all of Southern California, which the Santa Anas broadly hit.

The winds reached 71 mph along Interstate 8, east of Alpine, causing a nightmare for drivers. Gusts toppled five big rigs, temporarily snarling traffic, and dozens more pulled over to wait out the wind.

Doug Aguillard, a videographer for OnScene.TV, said he saw four of the big rigs that crashed Tuesday. “This is just nuts,” he said. “These truckers won’t stop. … It is not even gusts. It is just constant.”

That part of the county also was the scene of a worrisome brush fire that broke out in late morning southwest of Barrett Junction, a small community off state Route 94 in East County.

Around 175 firefighters and at least four helicopters were sent to the so-called Border 79 fire burning on the northwest side of Tecate Peak. Officials said it was too windy for tankers to get low enough to drop water or fire retardant.

Evacuations were briefly ordered south of SR-94 from Dulzura Summit to just east of Barrett Junction. Even after the order was lifted, officials said residents should be ready to leave should conditions change.

Investigators are trying to determine what sparked the blaze, which charred 24 acres, a Cal Fire spokesperson said. Firefighters had the fire 50 percent contained by early afternoon.

The risk of wildfire was enhanced by low relative humidity, which had fallen to the 5% to 15% range by early afternoon.

Forecasters correctly predicted the onset and path of Tuesday’s storm.

San Diego Gas & Electric notified more than 117,000 of its customers over the weekend that it might temporarily shut off their power to reduce the threat of wildfires, and that outages could last a day or more. It calls such outages public safety power shutoffs — de-energizing power lines to reduce the risk that high winds could knock them down into dry vegetation and spark a wildfire.

It began to follow through on that warning Monday, leading to outages in more than 40 communities, including Alpine, Julian, El Cajon, Escondido, Lakeside and Ramona. By late Tuesday, more than 46,000 households remained without power, and they faced the possibility they might not get it back for a day or two.

Shortly after 4:15 a.m. Tuesday, as winds were kicking up, firefighters responded to a brush fire on Rangeland Road north of Highland Valley Road in the Ramona area.

The fire, pushed by winds and burning in a grassy area, ran into a riparian creek area where its progress slowed, and firefighters were able to gain the upper hand, said Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette.

The power outages prompted Harrah’s Resort Southern California in the Valley Center area to close, but the casino and resort welcomed guests back Tuesday afternoon, with power restored.

Staff writers Maura Fox and Rob Nikolewski contributed to this report.

A Santa Ana winds-fueled brush fire took off in Malibu Monday night, quickly burning through nearly 2,600 acres the following morning, authorities said.

Parts of Malibu are under mandatory evacuation as firefighters try to control the Franklin Fire, according to officials. As of noon Tuesday., the fire has led to minimal damage to structures, but no one had been injured, officials said during a news conference.

The fire, located on South Malibu Canyon Road, started near Pepperdine University in Malibu, reported local outlet KTLA 5, and is impacting other structures, like the Malibu Pier, which is 2 miles away from the university, according to the City of Malibu.

Here's what we know about the Franklin Fire.

When did the Franklin Fire near Malibu start?

The so-called Franklin Fire ignited at approximately 10:52 p.m. Monday. Firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded near Malibu Canyon Road, just north of the Pepperdine University campus, according to reports from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The city of Malibu has been put under mandatory evacuation orders as the fire poses a threat to homes and other structures, according to the city of Malibu’s X account.

The fire erupted during extreme Santa Ana winds. The National Weather Service issued "a particularly dangerous" red-flag warning for much of the local area for the second time in a little over a month. Those are triggered during extreme conditions, ones that can cause fires to ignite easily and spread quickly, officials said.

The warning took effect Monday night and was expected to remain at least into Tuesday afternoon. The forecast called for gusts up to 80 mph in some wind-prone spots. Humidity levels could dip into single digits.

Portions of Pacific Coast Highway – from Topanga Canyon Boulevard, also known as State Route 27 to Kanan Dume Road in Malibu – were closed as a result of the fire.

Pepperdine University and all Malibu schools have closed for the day, according to the city of Malibu’s X account. Pepperdine has a shelter-in-place order for about 700 students.

An evacuation center has been set up at the Palisade Recreational Center on 851 Alma Real Drive, Pacific Palisades.

Areas evacuated include:

In addition, a six-mile portion of Pacific Coast Highway was ordered closed east of Corral Canyon Road and west of Las Flores Canyon Road, the city of Malibu reported. Las Virgenes Road is closed south of Mulholland Highway to Pacific Coast Highway.

Ventura County Fire is providing mutual aid to the firefighting efforts.

Red Flag and Shelter in Place Warnings

The Franklin Fire ignited after the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning over the weekend for most of Ventura and Los Angeles counties through 6 p.m. Wednesday, the Ventura County Star, a part of the USA TODAY Network reported.

At the Pepperdine University campus in Malibu, campus officials gave students a shelter-in-place warning.

Students shared social media video of the fire near campus early Tuesday morning.

What are Santa Ana winds?

According to Accuweather, Santa Ana winds occur when air from a region of high pressure over the dry Great Basin region of the U.S. flows westward toward lower pressure off the California coast. As that cool interior air flows over and through mountain passes, it accelerates, sinks, and compresses. The winds typically happen during the fall months and continue through winter and into early spring. Santa Ana winds can reach up to 70 miles per hour.

On Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service's San Diego office reported that Santa Ana winds were peaking in strength, and some windy spots had seen gusts over 70 miles per hour.

USA TODAY contributed to this story.

This story was updated with new information.

A crew of 700 firefighters continue to battle a fire, fueled by howling Santa Ana winds, that erupted in Malibu north of the Pepperdine University campus. The fire has shut down Pacific Coast Highway and prompted evacuations for residents.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has also assigned 150 deputies to assist with road closures, evacuations and keeping residents informed as conditions change.

Officials give update on Franklin Fire in Malibu

Chief Anthony Marrone with the LA County Fire Department gives an update Tuesday morning on the Franklin Fire in Malibu.

Around 10:50 p.m. Monday, crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to a call about the blaze, dubbed the "Franklin Fire."

In the latest update provided by fire officials around 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, the fire had grown to 2,200 acres, up from 1,822 acres, with 0% containment.

Residents have been asked by officials not to use their sprinklers or irrigate their lawns as that water will be used in the firefight.

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said in an update Tuesday morning that 18,000 people have been impacted by the fire and that there are 8,100 structures in the affected area. Of those structures, 2,043 are under evacuation orders and 6,046 are under evacuation warnings.

Sheriff Robert Luna update on LASD response to Franklin Fire

The Franklin Fire in Malibu has burned more than 2,200 acres, triggering evacuations for those in the area.

Also during Tuesday morning's news conference, LA County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said a minimal number of homes were destroyed but at this point, they are unable to provide an exact number. In addition, no fatalities or serious injuries have been reported.

Marrone added that the area remains "under an immediate threat" due to Red Flag conditions.

Franklin Fire: One-on-one update with fire chief

Fire Chief Marrone with the LA County Fire Department speaks with FOX 11's Hal Eisner about the progress being made as firefighters battle the Franklin Fire.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state has secured federal funding to provide additional resources for the firefight.

Super Scoopers drop water on Franklin Fire

Remarkable aerial images from SkyFOX show Super Scoopers dropping water on the Franklin Fire burning in Malibu near the Pepperdine University campus.

The fire has impacted buildings along Malibu Knolls Road and Sweetwater Canyon, according to the City of Malibu.

Massive fire burns Malibu, prompting evacuations

A massive fire burned parts of Malibu, prompting mandatory evacuations and a shelter-in-place order being in place at Pepperdine University.

On Monday night, as the fire continued to spread, deputies went door to door in Malibu and used loudspeakers to alert residents they were being evacuated.

Fire approaching buildings in Malibu

The strong winds are pushing the "Franklin Fire" closer to nearby buildings in Malibu.

The cause of the fire is under active investigation by the LA County Fire and LA County Sheriff’s arson investigators.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Forecast for Tuesday, Dec. 10

The latest forecast for the greater Los Angeles area, including beaches, valleys and desert regions.

The fire broke out as parts of Los Angeles County were under a Red Flag Warning. The weather alert was issued for the San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Clarita Valley, Western San Fernando Valley, Calabasas, the 14 Freeway corridor, as well as the Malibu coast.

FOX 11 Meteorologist Maria Quiban said the dry conditions with strong wind, combined with the terrain and vegetation of dry brush made for the "perfect recipe." She added there were prevailing winds from the upper levels of the atmosphere and that wind gusts have ranged between 45 and 55 mph, and even up to 80 mph in isolated areas.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect through 2 p.m. Tuesday, while a High Wind Warning remains in place through 10 p.m.

EVACUATION ORDER

Marrone said those in the evacuation order area should leave now and those in the evacuation warning areas should prepare to leave when that warning transitions to an order.

My request is "if you’re in the fire area…please leave now."

A mandatory evacuation order is in place for the following areas:

EVACUATION WARNING

PCH closed amid Franklin Fire

Pacific Coast Highway remains closed as a fire continues to burn in Malibu north of the Malibu University campus.

It is unknown when Pacific Coast Highway will reopen to the public.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

Pepperdine University canceled classes and final exams for Tuesday, December 10. Shortly before the news of classes being called off, the school issued a shelter-in-place order on campus, which impacted about 800 students. At the time of the shelter mandate, Pepperdine required all community members on the Malibu campus to hunker down in the Tyler Campus Center or Payson Library.

Pepperdine students watch Malibu burn from window

Pepperdine University students sheltering inside the campus' buildings watched the fire burn the City of Malibu from inside the windows.

FOX 11 spoke with Pepperdine University students sheltering inside one of the libraries. Gabrielle Salgado said students were inside a fire-resistant campus library wearing masks as they watched the fire spreading through the building's windows.

On Tuesday morning, the shelter-in-place order had been lifted and students were allowed to return to on-campus housing.

In addition, between the firefight and poor air quality, all schools are closed in Malibu on Tuesday, Dec. 10.

EVACUATION SITE

The Red Cross opened a site for all impacted by the fire at the Palisades Recreation Center located at 851 Alma Real Drive.

A site for small animals has been established at Aguora Animal Shelter at 29525 Aguora Road in Aguora Hills.

Also, a large animal shelter opened at Pierce College at 6201 Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills.

POWER SHUT-OFFS

Southern California Edison shut off power for parts of Malibu in the wake of the fires.

The Source: This report used information from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Pepperdine University and FOX 11 meteorologists Maria Quiban and Adam Krueger.

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