At Pepperdine University, evacuations and shelter-in-place procedures were implemented after the Franklin Fire in Malibu Canyon burst to over 2,000 acres overnight while a large portion of Southern California was under red flag warnings and there was a significant possibility of the fire spreading dangerously.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department reports that the brush fire started at approximately 11 p.m. local time on Monday night (2 a.m. ET on Tuesday) at Malibu Canyon Road and Station Boundary.
It has expanded to 1,822 acres with no containment as of 3:47 a.m. local time (6:47 a.m. ET), crossing the Pacific Coast Highway and causing damage to buildings.
Due to Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation, which create an ideal environment for very dangerous wildfire growth, 12 million people in Southern California, from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, are under red flag warnings at the time of the fire. There is a chance of falling trees, power disruptions, and wind gusts of 50 to 80 mph.
According to the National Weather Service Office of Los Angeles, a rare particularly dangerous situation, or PDS, red flag warning was in effect from 8 p.m. Monday night local time through 2 p.m. Tuesday due to damaging Santa Ana winds and very low humidities. Malibu, a beach city in the Santa Monica Mountains that is home to celebrities, was one of several areas under the warning.
The Santa Clarita Valley, Calabasas, Ventura County Coasts and Valleys, the western San Fernando Valley, and the San Gabriel Mountains are among the other regions covered by this PDS warning. In the same places, red flag warnings are in force for all other times until Wednesday at 6 p.m.
The fire has expanded south across PCH to Malibu Road at Webb Way and across PCH into the Malibu Pier area, a popular tourist destination for both locals and surfers, according to an update released by the City of Malibu at 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
Other buildings, including Malibu Pier, are affected. According to the city, structures on Malibu Knolls Road and Sweetwater Cyn are affected.
According to fire officials, there is a mandatory evacuation order in effect south of Piuma Road, east of Malibu Canyon Road, and in the Serra Retreat area. An evacuation center is the Palisades Recreation Center.
Around 1 a.m. local time on Tuesday, Pepperdine University sent out a shelter-in-place notice to the community. On the Malibu campus, everyone was instructed to take cover either the Payson Library or Tyler Campus Center.
Bright orange flames were seen ferociously raging outside the university windows in videos posted on social media.
The University said on X around 3 a.m. local time that “the worst of the fire has pushed past Pepperdine.”
“However, there are smaller spot fires on campus that are not threatening life or structures, and fire resources remain on campus to address these spot fires as they occur,” the statement continued. Malibu is experiencing power outages, so the shelter-in-place policy will be in effect until “at least daylight.”
Classes and examinations were canceled on Tuesday, along with other regular campus activities on Malibu.
Due to increased wildfire risk, Southern California Edison implemented public safety power shutoffs that affected more than 2,000 customers in Kern County, nearly 9,000 customers in San Bernardino County, and over 10,000 customers in Los Angeles County. According to the mayor, many parts of Malibu are also shut off.
All Malibu schools are closed Tuesday until further notice, according to the city, and locals and tourists are asked to avoid the region.
According to county officials, Malibu Canyon Road between Mullholland Highway and Pacific Coast Highway is likewise off-limits to the public.
Karen Bass, the mayor of Los Angeles, stated that her office is keeping an eye on the fire. She said on X, “Thank you to all first responders fighting this fire.”
Yesterday, some Santa Ana wind gusts were close to 100 mph. A gust of 93 mph was recorded at Magic Mountain Truck Trail, 77 mph at Palo Sola Truck Trail, and 74 mph at the Oakridge Oil Field, according to the Los Angeles National Weather Service.
Through Wednesday, a powerful, extensive, and prolonged Santa Ana Event is expected to bring widespread critical to highly critical fire weather conditions to many parts of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, with a red flag warning event in many regions due to a particularly dangerous situation, according to forecasters.
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