Red Flag fire warnings are expected to remain for the Malibu area along the Southern California coast into Wednesday afternoon after the Franklin Fire forced evacuation orders or warnings for 18,000 residents,

A brush fire broke out Monday evening off Malibu Canyon Road in Malibu amid Red Flag conditions prompted by Santa Ana winds. Watch Duty, a nonprofit that tracks wildfires, reported the fire broke out in heavy brush.

A large brush fire is burning in Malibu Canyon near Pepperdine University, prompting some evacuations for residents. The blaze, dubbed the Franklin Fire, was first reported a little after 10:45 p.m. near S.

MALIBU, Calif. — Officials in Southern California reported significant overnight growth of a wind-driven wildfire that has forced thousands of people, including celebrities like Cher and Dick Van Dyke, from their homes in Malibu, but forecasters said firefighters would get a break from improving weather conditions.

A wildfire burning through Malibu that has sent thousands of people fleeing for safety, including Hollywood celebrities, forged west on Wednesday, as firefighters battled to save homes from the blaze.