Malibu residents who defied evacuation orders and made the risky decision to stay inside to protect their homes from the Franklin Fire said they are grateful to have escaped unscathed.
“I was really lucky. This time everything was burnt except the house,” Tony Smoller said.
Smoller is one of the residents near Serra Road and Pacific Coast Highway affected by the wind-driven fire. Los Angeles County authorities ordered residents in the area to vacate their homes, but some decided to stay behind to protect their belongings.
“If you choose to live here, that comes with the territory,” Smoller said.
Residents in another neighborhood down the road from Smoller remained at home to protect their property. Alec Gellis, who lives near Serra Road, said he witnessed a flare-up in his neighborhood.
“The fire in this house has been put out many times,” he said. “But we have to be really careful because the lights are still on and the wind is picking up.”
Fire officials are urging people under evacuation orders to evacuate, warning that their lives are at risk if they remain.
“We need to evacuate,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. “It means lives and it really impacts the lives of first responders.”
As of Wednesday evening, the Franklin Fire had grown to more than 4,000 acres and firefighters were increasing containment.
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