Southern California newlywed couple devastated after losing home to Malibu wildfire

A newlywed couple in Southern California are devastated after losing everything they had to the Franklin wildfire in Malibu.

Blake and Michelle Geffen were married in August and had moved into a rental home on Serra Road in Malibu a month ago. Affectionately known by the couple as the “Pink House” due to its unique color, the Geffens were excited to start married life in a new place.

Both avid surfers, they loved their home’s proximity to the beach as well.

When the Franklin Fire ignited on Dec. 9, the couple’s lives changed forever. They were awoken that night and forced to evacuate immediately, without much time to prepare as the growing wildfire loomed dangerously close.

“I started hearing helicopters rumbling above us,” Michelle told KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell. “I heard screams, cars honking. Our neighbor called us and told us that there was a fire and we immediately looked at each other and grabbed our cat and very few belongings. We only have the clothes on our backs and we just left.”

They sought shelter with loved ones in a safe location away from the fire. The next day, a neighbor told them the devastating news — their home completely had perished in the fire.

The couple lost all their personal belongings including precious wedding photos, gifts, jewelry, personal valuables and their beloved surfboards.

“[We lost] everything,” Michell said tearfully. “Photos of us front the wedding that our family and friends had gifted us. Our photos of me in my dress, [my husband] in his tux. My doll that I‘ve had since childhood that I wanted to give my children someday. It’s all gone. But I’m grateful we are safe.

The Geffens said they were stunned by how quickly the fire consumed everything in its path.

“We both looked at each other and just gasped because it was a giant orange ball of fire,” Blake recalled.

On Wednesday night, firefighters were still battling the blaze that had grown to 4,037 acres with 7 percent containment. Evacuation orders remain in place for many areas affected by the Malibu wildfire. 

As first responders checked the leveled homes in the couple’s neighborhood, little did they know that something very precious would be found in the ashes of their former home — a framed photo of the couple on their wedding day.

The Geffens, who were left with little more than the clothes on their backs and a few items they salvaged, said they have a long journey ahead to rebuilding their lives.

They are staying with family in the Los Angeles area but said they don’t know when they’ll be able to return to their home.

“We’re going to miss it a lot,” Blake said of the Malibu house. “All we can really think of at this point is getting our feet under us. The hope is that one day, we’ll make it back to our dream.”

The couple’s honeymoon was initially planned for this weekend but has now been postponed indefinitely.

A GoFundMe page to help the Geffens can be found here.

A newlywed couple in Southern California are devastated after losing everything they had to the Franklin wildfire in Malibu. Blake and Michelle Geffen were married in August and had moved into a rental home on Serra Road in Malibu a month ago. Affectionately known by the couple as the “Pink House” due to its unique […]