Cher, Dick Van Dyke and thousands who left Malibu amid wildfire eye possible return | California

Twenty thousand people who were forced to evacuate the canyons of Malibu as a ferocious wildfire approached are anxiously eying improving weather conditions that could allow them to return to their homes.

Among those that were ordered to flee the enclave near Los Angeles were performers Cher and Dick Van Dyke.

The Franklin fire erupted late Monday and grew to more than 6 sq miles (15.8 sq km) by Wednesday morning.

More than 1,500 firefighters were assigned to battle the fire, according to the California department of forestry and fire protection, known as CalFire.

Weather conditions were forecast to improve this week, aiding the fire crews in their efforts. The National Weather Service said late Tuesday that the strongest Santa Ana winds, dry gusts that sweep out of the interior toward the coast, had passed. But strong gusts remained possible through Wednesday morning, authorities said, and critical fire conditions remain.

Much of the devastation occurred in Malibu, a community of about 10,000 people on the western edge of Los Angeles, renowned for its stunning scenery of seaside bluffs and beaches featured in Hollywood films.

The fire erupted shortly before 11pm Monday and swiftly moved south, jumping over the famous Pacific Coast Highway and extending all the way to the ocean, where large homes line the beach and rugged inland canyons are notoriously fire prone. At one point, flames threatened the historic Malibu Pier, but the structure was protected, officials said.

Flames burned near celebrities’ seaside mansions, horse farms and Pepperdine University, where some 3,000 students were forced to shelter in place on campus. Many evacuated their dorms to the library through smoke and ash as flames roared in the canyon nearby.

But early assessments indicated damage may be limited. Pepperdine university said an early analysis showed little to no damage to structures on campus. And the Los Angeles county fire department chief, Anthony C Marrone, said a preliminary aerial assessment estimates that seven structures were destroyed and eight structures damaged.

It was not immediately known how the blaze started.

Wedged between the mountains and the ocean, Malibu is frequently at the mercy of the state’s relentless natural hazards, including landslides and wildfires. For residents, it’s lead to a familiar cycle where once-lush vegetation is charred.

“It burns, it grows back, and we’re resilient and strong,” said the Malibu mayor, Doug Stewart.

Van Dyke, one of many celebrities with homes in Malibu, said he and his wife, Arlene Silver, had evacuated as the fire swept in. The actor turns 99 on Friday. “Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” said Van Dyke, referring to one of their cats. “We’re praying he’ll be OK and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.”

Cher evacuated from her Malibu home when ordered and is staying at a hotel, her publicist Liz Rosenberg said late Tuesday.

Power to about 40,000 customers had been shut off by Monday night, including 11,000 in LA county, as Southern California Edison, the utility there, worked to mitigate the impacts of the Santa Ana winds. Gabriela Ornelas, an Edison spokesperson, said service power was shut off to most customers in Malibu around 6 or 7pm on Monday.

The Woolsey Fire that roared through Malibu in 2018, killing three people and destroying 1,600 homes, was sparked by Edison equipment.

While Malibu is known for its celebrity and uber-wealthy residents, Kasey Earnest, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Malibu said Tuesday that she’s especially concerned about the lower- and middle-class families, ranchers and farmers who make up the community, too.

“I refer to those residents as the heart of Malibu,” she said. “They’re just normal families – nobody’s landing a helicopter on their property.”