Christal Hayes
Reporting from Los Angeles

Image source, Getty Images

The Franklin wildfire continues to burn in Malibu, California - a wealthy enclave just west of Los Angeles that is a popular home to celebrities.

Here's the latest:

• The fire has burned through 2,713 acres in Malibu since it started late on Monday evening

• Much of the area is under an evacuation warning or order, with more than 5,000 residents affected
• No injuries have been reported, though multiple homes have been destroyed. The exact number isn't clear. Photos from a number of news agencies show the charred remains of burned-out vehicles and homes, some with only brick chimneys remaining
• Multiple schools in the area have cancelled classes until further notice
• Much of the area had its power cut - something officials do to help prevent against worsening a blaze should equipment and power lines catch on fire

We're going to pause our live coverage but you can stay across any further updates of the blaze here.

Image source, Getty Images

This is not the first time Malibu has witnessed an intense fire.

In 2018, a spate of wildfires blazed through California, including Woolsey in the south, which damaged the Malibu resort area.

The fire started in Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles (64km) north-west of central Los Angeles and engulfed more than 85,500 acres of land, destroying at least 177 buildings.

Thousands were evacuated and two were killed in the city.

Luxury homes and other beach communities were razed by the fire, including the home of Hollywood actor Gerard Butler, who shared a picture of a charred house on X at the time. Properties belonging to Neil Young, Kim Basinger and Miley Cyrus were also destroyed.

Wildfires do occur naturally in some parts of the world, but climate change has made the conditions needed for them to spread are becoming increasingly prevalent, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has said.

We've been hearing reports of homes burning and homeowners being forced to evacuate.

But one Malibu resident stayed behind and defended his property from the blaze, despite being under an evacuation order.

“When you’re in Malibu and you’ve been through a couple of fires, you know you have to stay because the embers [can] float a mile and land on a roof or a lawn and you can put it out with a garden hose,” Alec Gellis told local media outlet KTLA.

By using gas-powered water pumps that were linked to his pool, he drenched his home and others nearby, likely saving properties from burning down.

"We turned it into a tropical rainforest," he said.

One other resident stayed behind to help him, but Gellis said the responding firefighters did "an incredible job".

“They showed up and they were everywhere," he told the outlet. "The whole entire hillside was on fire - the whole backside of this canyon looks like Utah now."

Several homes have been damaged or destroyed in the Franklin fire, according to local media reports and city officials in Malibu.

We don't currently have any detail on how many homes have been affected, but we will bring you that when we can. No injuries have been reported.

"Our hearts and thoughts go out to all those impacted, we will do everything possible to support their recovery," the city of Malibu said in a statement on its website.

The fire has also grown to 2,667 acres and is still 0% contained.

If it is safe and you are interested in sharing your experience with the BBC, fill out this form here.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist.

You can also get in touch in the following ways:

• Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay

Students at Pepperdine University, a private ocean-side school in Malibu, sheltered in the school's library as a wall of fire approached.

Watch footage of what students saw Monday night after the fire broke out and quickly spread.

Image source, EPA

Extreme weather events - like wildfires, heatwaves, droughts and floods - are becoming more common and more intense in many places around the world, driven by climate change.

Fires happen naturally in many parts of the world, and of course it is difficult to know if climate change has caused or worsened a specific wildfire.

This is because other factors are also relevant, such as changes to the way land is used.

But climate change is making the weather conditions needed for wildfires to spread more likely, says the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

It says extreme, long-lasting heat draws more moisture out of soils and vegetation.

These tinder-dry conditions provide fuel for fires, which can spread at an incredible speed, particularly if winds are strong.

• Read our explainer in full

Malibu is a beach city located in the Santa Monica Mountains, about 30 miles west of Los Angeles in California.

Luxury malls and expensive restaurants line the streets of the city, which is known for being a go-to destination for the rich and famous.

Many celebrities, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Janet Jackson and Jennifer Anniston own or have owned homes there.

The fire broke out in the Malibu Canyon, several miles north of the Pacific Coast Highway, a main road.

The Malibu Pier, an iconic landmark on the beach, has been closed because of the fire danger.

It's just gone 10:00 in Malibu, and we can bring you some photos taken in daylight.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for strong winds and low relative humidity, which will remain in place until 04:00 local time (12:00 GMT) on Wednesday.

This, combined with warm temperatures, “can contribute to extreme fire behaviour” and increase the risk of danger, it says.

It also warns that the strong winds can cause "damage" to outdoor property and cause "difficult driving conditions".

Image source, Photo by ALLISON DINNER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

All schools in Malibu have been closed today, according to the city's official page on X.

People are urged to stay clear of the area as the wildfire continues to pose a "significant" threat.

Earlier, the city's account had warned that that the fire spread to the famous Malibu Pier, and was impacting other nearby structures.

Pepperdine University, in Los Angeles County, says it was forced to briefly activate "the shelter-in-place protocol" due to the Franklin wildfire.

In a series of posts on X, the private Christian research university says "the worst of the fire has pushed past Pepperdine", but there are "smaller spot fires on campus".

In a later post, it says it was lifting the safety protocol "after assessing campus conditions at daybreak".

"Campus conditions are safe for members of the community to return to student residences and on-campus homes. The community is strongly encouraged to remain on campus and stay off Malibu roads as first responders continue to respond to the Franklin fire."

It also urges campus residents to limit driving "to allow first responders to respond to spot fires which continue to flare up around campus".

We can bring you some images now of the fire as it tore through Malibu overnight, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

Efforts are under way to contain the fire, which has so far burned more than 2,200 acres.

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

Image source, EPA

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that the state has been granted federal funds to support emergency response efforts in the wake of the Franklin fire.

"Fire officials and first responders are working relentlessly to protect lives and property from the Franklin Fire," he says in a post on X.

"California is grateful for this federal support, which bolsters these efforts."

He also urges residents to "stay alert" and "follow evacuation areas".

Image source, EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Image source, EPA

Speaking at the same press briefing, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna reiterates the Franklin fire in Malibu has burned more than 2,200 acres, prompting evacuations for those in the area.

"There are approximately 18,000 people and 8,100 structures in the affected area," he tells reporters. Of these, 2,043 structures are under evacuation orders, he adds.

"The safety of our community members are our number one priority," Luna says.

Several shelters have been established for residents, with designated areas specified for animals. Several roads have been closed, he adds.

We can bring you an update now on the response to the wildfires in Malibu.

LA county fire chief Anthony Marrone tells a press briefing that 700 firefighters are tackling the fire that has spread to more than 2,200 acres.

No loss of life has been reported so far, he tells reporters.

"We have only a minimal number of homes destroyed," Marrone says.

But he also warns that "this fire is not contained and we remain under an immediate threat".

The cause of the blaze is being investigated.

An evacuation order is in place near the city of Malibu in the US state of California after a fast-moving wildfire broke out and burned thousands of acres

The Franklin fire is uncontained, and has reportedly burned down several homes. No serious injuries have been reported.

Firefighters are on the scene and a mandatory evacuation order is in place for a wide swathe of eastern Malibu.

Stick with us as we bring you the latest on this evolving situation.