Wildfires

Cal Fire said Wednesday crews will soon be conducting prescribed burns in San Diego and Imperial counties.

Legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke marked his 99th birthday Friday, just days after a harrowing escape from a wildfire near his Malibu home.

Firefighters continue making progress on the Franklin Fire in Malibu, which is now 30% contained after burning more than 4,000 acres.

Neighbors helped 98-year-old Dick Van Dyke to safety as a swift-moving wildfire fanned by strong wind gusts closed in on his Malibu home, the legendary entertainer told NBC News.

Mass emergency power shutoffs stretched into another day following the strong Santa Ana winds that swept through Southern California. In one East County town, the entire community was in the dark for days. NBC 7’s Shelby Bremer reports on Dec. 11, 2024.

A Red Flag Warning expired at 4 a.m. Wednesday but low humidity levels in some parts of San Diego County were still elevating fire concern.

Power remains out in many areas of the county after SDG&E shut it off due to the high winds and some customers have been told they may not get it restored until Friday. NBC 7’s Audra Stafford has more. 

Pepperdine University students who’ve hunkered down with their peers on campus amid the shelter-in-place order that was issued due to the Franklin Fire say although harrowing, they understand they’re in the safest place they could be.

The Franklin Fire grew slightly Tuesday evening to rip through more than 2,800 acres of land in Malibu while destroying at least seven structures along the way.

Horse owners in the Malibu equestrian community breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday after they managed to get their horses out from the Franklin Fire area overnight.

Thousands of Southern California residents were under evacuation orders and warnings Tuesday as firefighters battled a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu that burned near celebrities’ seaside mansions, horse farms and Pepperdine University, where students watched as flames raced down hillsides and the sky turned deep red.

Some residents soaked their lawns with sprinklers just in case a fire broke out amid a red flag warning across San Diego County Tuesday. NBC 7’s Shandel Menezes spoke to one neighbor who wanted to take precaution so that history would not repeat itself.

A wildfire burned at least two acres of brush Tuesday in the Ramona area, amid Santa Ana winds, according to Cal Fire San Diego. NBC 7’s Audra Stafford has details.

A brush fire began burning Tuesday morning in an area of rugged, mountainous terrain in the East County community of Dulzura. The so-called #Border 79 Fire, which is in Marron Valley, was first reported a little after 10:30 a.m.

The so-called #Border 79 Fire, which is in Marron Valley, was first reported a little after 10:30 a.m.

Santa Ana winds and extremely low humidity were creating a dangerous weather concoction for Southern California that sparked wildfires and forced SDG&E to cut power to tens of thousands of customers.

More than 50,000 people were without electricity Tuesday morning as SDG&E takes precautions against wildfires. NBC 7’s Audra Stafford has more on the shut-offs and a small brush fire that started in Ramona overnight. 

Firefighters continue to battle the flames of a 2,200-acre wildfire that started Monday night, prompting evacuation orders, road closures and school closures in Malibu near Pepperdine University.

The utility company warned customers they could shut off power anytime from 10 a.m. Monday to noon Friday after a red flag warning was issued by the National Weather Service, reports NBC 7’s Audra Stafford.

Crews were called around 2:20 p.m. to the area of Proctor Valley Road and Coyote Road for the fire.