EDITOR'S NOTE: Multimedia journalist Zarina Khairzada spoke with a Malibu resident and a Malibu business owner about the Franklin Fire. Click the arrow above to watch the full report.

MALIBU, Calif. — The destructive and disruptive Franklin Fire in Malibu Canyon, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, has stabilized in size at just more than 4,000 acres, with containment increasing to 30%, according to authorities, who said some evacuated residents will be allowed back into their homes.

At a noon briefing on Thursday, Los Angeles County Fire Department Deputy Chief Eleni Pappas said authorities have conducted a preliminary assessment of some of the estimated 7,600 structures within the "fire footprint" area, which includes about 6,600 single-family homes.

Pappas said four homes have been destroyed, six homes have been damaged and five smaller structures — such as sheds or other outbuildings — also had been destroyed.

Cal Fire Assistant Chief Dusty Martin, one of the Franklin Fire incident commanders, said 1,974 personnel have been assigned to the firefighting effort.

Martin said authorities Thursday will begin to allow "some repopulation of the areas" affected by the fire.

"And that's strictly due to the successful efforts of all agency personnel working collaboratively together to start bringing containment and make sure the areas are safe," Martin said.

"Some areas around the fire are still going to (be) under evacuation orders and warnings," Martin said. "It is our number-one priority to get residents back into their homes and to their communities. However, we have to make sure it's safe to do so."

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Capt. Jennifer Seetoo said, "Effective immediately, some of the mandatory evacuation orders will be lifted in some of the areas."

"We will downgrade the voluntary evacuation orders, allowing citizens who evacuated — some citizens who evacuated — back into their homes," Seetoo said.

Seetoo advised people to use the website www.protect.genasys.com to guide them on the specifics of the repopulation effort. And she said some roadways were being reopened.

Officials also urged people to use the website and look for links to information on recovery efforts connected with the fire.

At an 8 a.m. multi-agency briefing on Wednesday, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said the fire's size was estimated at 3,983 acres, but as of 4:30 the next morning, the fire has scorched 4,037 acres.

Cal Fire reported Wednesday evening that 6,300 individuals were displaced due to the evacuation order.

Cal Fire Incident Management Team 4 assumed command of the firefight Wednesday morning. The Los Angeles County Fire Department will remain engaged until the fire is contained.

A red flag warning of critical fire danger that had been in place in the Malibu area since Monday was scheduled to expire at 2 p.m. Wednesday, but the National Weather Service canceled the warning an hour early, saying the winds were decreasing "faster than expected."

"While very dry air and elevated fire weather conditions will persist into tonight, the threat of critical fire weather conditions have ended," according to an NWS statement.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna, also at the Wednesday morning briefing, said more than 100 sheriff's department personnel have been assigned to patrol the affected area, and there have been no crimes reported in that area since the fire began late Monday night.

Information continues to be available on the sheriff's department's social media sites such as @lasdhq on X, and also on the website, Luna said.

Third District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who represents Malibu, met with leaders from Malibu, Topanga, Pepperdine, and neighboring communities to coordinate emergency response efforts.

"The strength of our Malibu and surrounding communities has been evident throughout this crisis. To those impacted by the Franklin Fire, I want you to know that we are here for you," Horvath said. "To all those who have come together — from mutual aid organizations to our County departments, neighboring counties, and countless volunteers — thank you for your dedication and compassion. Your efforts make a difference."

Luna said evacuations were affecting 19,980 people and 7,560 structures in the fire area. Mandatory evacuation orders affecting about 12,600 people were in place in an area roughly south of Piuma Road, east of Corral Canyon, and west of Big Rock. Another 7,380 people were under evacuation warnings, in an area south of Mulholland Highway, north of Pacific Coast Highway, east of Trancas and west of Coastline.

Evacuation shelter was operating at a Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District facility at 2828 Fourth St. in Santa Monica and the Palisades Recreation Center at 851 Alma Real Drive in Pacific Palisades.

The shelter at the Calabasas Community Center was closed Wednesday by the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region.

Small animals can be taken to Agoura Animal Center, 29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, while larger animals can be sheltered at Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills.

Luna said "soft" street closures, in which only residents with proper identification, may enter an area, were in effect at:

• Topanga Canyon Boulevard at Pacific Coast Highway
• Old Topanga Canyon Road at Mulholland Highway to Topanga Canyon

Luna said "hard" closures, in which only emergency vehicles may enter an area, were at:

• Tuna Canyon at Pacific Coast Highway
• Kanan Road at Pacific Coast Highway
• Saddle Peak at Tuna Canyon
• Stunt Road at Mulholland Highway
• Cold Canyon at Piuma Road
• Piuma Road at Malibu Canyon to Pacific Coast Highway

The blaze began shortly before 11 p.m. Monday in a Malibu Canyon area where a high volume of dry brush contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. It erupted in the midst of a rare "particularly dangerous situation red flag warning" issued by the National Weather Service in response to strong wind gusts and dramatically dry conditions.

The cause of the fire was still under investigation.

On Tuesday, more than a dozen water- and retardant-dropping aircraft were assisting in the effort, including Super Scoopers and eight Cal Fire S2-T tankers, which are capable of dropping 1,200 gallons of retardant.

Pepperdine University reported power outages and activated a shelter- in-place protocol early Tuesday morning. That order was lifted later that morning, although students and staff were urged to stay off the local roads.

Final exams at the university were postponed and campus operations were suspended, with much of the campus without power.

All Malibu schools within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District were closed Tuesday, and they will remain closed through Friday due to continued restrictions in the area. The district's Santa Monica schools remained open.

The Santa Monica College Malibu Campus will also be closed through Friday.

Southern California Edison officials began restoring power to several neighborhoods late Wednesday afternoon once the red flag warning was lifted, but some areas were still impacted.

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger signed a local declaration of emergency in response to the fire early Tuesday morning. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state had secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist with the firefight.

"Fire officials and first responders are working relentlessly to protect lives and property from the Franklin Fire," Newsom said in a statement. "California is grateful for this federal support, which bolsters these efforts. I urge all residents in affected areas to stay alert and follow evacuation orders."

The Red Cross of Los Angeles is working around the clock with local emergency management officials to assist those in need of resources and shelter. Residents affected by the Franklin fire are encouraged to call 800-733- 2767.