The Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu have a long and fiery history. For centuries, these areas have endured periodic wildfires fueled by their unique climate, rugged terrain, and seasonal winds. This history isn’t just about destruction but also about the ongoing clash between nature and human development.
Why Wildfires Burn Like Clockwork in Malibu
Malibu’s wildfire history is deeply connected to its geography. The region’s chaparral ecosystem thrives in dry, hot summers and wet winters. This cycle promotes vegetation growth that dries out, creating perfect conditions for fires. Moreover, the infamous Santa Ana winds, blowing hot and dry from inland deserts, spread embers quickly, making fires even more destructive.
Human activity also plays a role. As the Retrospect Journal notes, Malibu’s coastal beauty has driven people to build homes in fire-prone areas. This expansion increases the risks and challenges of containing wildfires. Despite advances in fire prevention and community planning, these blazes continue to occur with almost clockwork regularity.
Historic Fires and This Week’s Franklin Fire
Some of the largest and most destructive wildfires in Malibu’s history include the 1993 Old Topanga Fire, which destroyed over 300 homes, and the 2018 Woolsey Fire, which burned nearly 100,000 acres. Each of these events reshaped the landscape and reinforced the narrative of fire’s inevitability in the region.
This week, the Franklin Fire once again underscored this reality. Fueled by Santa Ana winds, it forced evacuations and damaged homes, reigniting discussions about the region’s fire resilience. As Longreads highlights, the idea of “letting Malibu burn” is controversial yet rooted in the recognition that fire is intrinsic to this landscape.
“The rugged 22-mile-long coastline is scourged, on the average, by a large fire (one thousand acres plus) every two and a half years, and the entire surface area of the western Santa Monica Mountains has been burnt three times over the twentieth century.”
— Mike Davis, Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster
The Franklin Fire as shown in the RZAlert Dashboard. It has burned over 4,000 acres and damaged several homes this week in yet another Santa Ana driven wildfire in Malibu.
This week’s Franklin fire and Malibu’s long fire history serves as a powerful reminder. Living in such areas demands preparation, adaptation, and resilience to coexist with nature’s cycles.
