The Franklin Fire continues to spread through Malibu, California, burning over 3,000 acres so far and causing celebrities to flee their mansions.

The fire, which broke out Monday near Malibu Canyon Road, led to the evacuation of about 20,000 residents, including celebrities such as Dick Van Dyke and Cher.

As strong Santa Ana winds fuel the fire, firefighters are battling extreme conditions.

As of Wednesday morning evening, the fire remained 0 percent contained and dangerous conditions are expected to continue throughout the day.

Follow our live coverage of the Malibu wildfires.

To date, emergency crews, including over 1,500 firefighters, have been deployed to the scene, using both ground and air strategies to bring the flames under control.

The fire’s erratic behavior, caused by gusts of up to 40 miles per hour, has complicated containment efforts.

The National Weather Service issued an advisory for the region, with forecasters predicting critical fire conditions will continue into Wednesday. Low humidity increases the risk of flameout or new fires, although wind speeds are expected to fall below 20 mph by Wednesday afternoon.

Real-time maps from the California Fire Department show how the fire has spread to over 3,000 hectares of land – an area twice the size of Central Park.

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Pepperdine University, which is located near the source of the fire, implemented a shelter-in-place protocol for its 3,000 students as the flames approached campus. Students were evacuated to safer areas on site, including the library, as smoke and embers filled the air.

“It felt super apocalyptic,” junior Abigail Ballhagen said. Although parts of the campus were scorched, university officials confirmed no major damage, although classes and final exams were canceled as a precaution.

Evacuations extended to Malibu Canyon and portions of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), which was partially closed to traffic. Residents in the affected areas had to evacuate in a hurry as smoke blanketed the neighborhoods and ash fell.

Power outages exacerbated the situation and left thousands without power during evacuation efforts Monday evening.

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The fire briefly threatened the historic Malibu Pier before firefighters secured the area. Serra Retreat, home to several celebrities, is among the threatened neighborhoods.

Actor Dick Van Dyke evacuated the area but shared on social media that his cat Bobo escaped during the chaos.

“We pray that he is well,” Van Dyke wrote, adding that he hopes the community recovers from these “horrible fires.”

The fire is one of several fires in California this season, with a total of 7,909 wildfires burning a total of 1,047,576 acres so far in 2024.

At its peak, the Franklin Fire burned so intensely that it changed wind patterns and pushed the flames into previously unaffected areas.

Looking ahead, meteorologists predict a gradual change in weather conditions that could aid firefighting efforts.

By Thursday, higher humidity and sea breezes are expected to reduce the fire danger. Even light rain is possible later in the week, offering a glimmer of hope for exhausted firefighters and displaced residents.