Malibu fire prompts evacuations at Pepperdine University
Firefighters battled a brushfire early Tuesday in Malibu, California, near Pepperdine University, resulting in thousands of Southern California residents being under evacuation orders and warnings.
Over 8,100 homes and other buildings were under threat, including more than 2,000 where residents were ordered to evacuate.
The Associated Press reported that another 6,000 people were warned to be prepared to flee at a moment's notice as Santa Ana winds with gusts reaching 40 mph (64 kph) made for erratic fire conditions.
Pepperdine University canceled classes and finals for the day and there was a shelter-in-place order. Flames could be seen from the campus, the AP reported, citing a university statement.
Roughly 3,000 students sheltered-in-place on campus, while others gathered outside on a sports field as fire lit up the night sky.
The university later told the AP that the worst of the fire had pushed past the school. Michael Friel, a Pepperdine spokesperson, shared with the news outlet that parts of the campus had been "singed" but there was no major damage.
According to the AP, power to roughly 40,000 customers had been shut off by Monday night, including 11,000 in LA County, as Southern California Edison worked to mitigate the impacts of the Santa Ana winds.
It's unknown how the blaze, named the Franklin Fire, started, but Los Angeles County Fire Department officials estimated that at least 2.8 square miles had burned, the AP noted.
Major wildfire in Malibu, California
The fire broke out as parts of Los Angeles County were under a red flag warning through 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 10. The red flag warnings were issued for the San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Clarita Valley, Western San Fernando Valley, Calabasas, the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway corridor and the Malibu coast as the Santa Ana winds tore into Southern California.
The Weather Service issued a red flag warning for high fire risk with a rare "particularly dangerous situation," or PDS, designation starting at 8 p.m. Monday into Tuesday for Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents living east of Malibu Canyon Road and South of Piuma Road, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported.
Firefighters work as the Franklin Fire burns near a building on December 10, 2024 in Malibu, California. The wildfire has scorched 1,800 acres near Pepperdine University prompting evacuations along the coast amid high winds with some structures destr
RELATED: 'Franklin Fire' breaks out in Malibu near Pepperdine; Evacuations in place, PCH closed
FOX 11 spoke with Pepperdine University students sheltering inside one of the libraries. Gabrielle Salgado told FOX 11 that students were inside a fire-resistant campus library wearing masks as they watched the fire spreading through the building's windows.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, who helped firefighters at the scene, said its deputies went door to door in Malibu and used loudspeakers to alert residents they were being evacuated late Monday night.
A car drives as the Franklin Fire burns on December 10, 2024 in Malibu, California. The wildfire has scorched 1,800 acres near Pepperdine University prompting evacuations along the coast amid high winds with some structures destroyed. (Photo by Mari
The fire occurred just before 11 p.m. Monday and moved south, jumping over the Pacific Coast Highway and extending all the way to the ocean. At one point, flames threatened the historic Malibu Pier, but the structure was protected, officials told the AP.