Weather conditions were forecast to improve this week in Southern California, aiding firefighters in their battle against a wind-driven wildfire that's forced up to 20,000 people — including performers Cher, Dick Van Dyke and his wife — from their homes. Residents under evacuation orders and warnings waited anxiously to see whether their properties had been spared by the Franklin Fire, which erupted late Monday and grew to more than 6 square miles (15.8 square kilometers) by Wednesday morning. More than 1,500 firefighters were assigned to the fire, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as CalFire. The National Weather Service late Tuesday said the strongest Santa Ana winds, with gusts that reached 40 mph (64 kph), have passed. The notorious winds are withering, dry gusts that sweep out of the interior toward the coast, pushing back moist ocean breezes. Even as the weather was expected to improve, forecasters said gusty winds will continue through Wednesday morning, especially in the mountains, and critical fire conditions remain. MORE: https://www.wthr.com/article/news/nation-world/malibu-wildfire-evacuations/507-7264ecc2-9b62-4d78-97d4-743a69fc3fec