Fast-moving brush fire in Malibu prompts evacuations, school closures Emergency USA

This is a developing story and will be updated. For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:

A fast-moving brush fire in Malibu grew to more than 2,800 acres by Tuesday afternoon amid high winds and extreme fire danger. Authorities warned the fire “continues to pose a significant threat” and asked that both residents and visitors avoid the area.

Mandatory evacuations affecting thousands of people are in place, Malibu schools are closed and Pacific Coast Highway, the main way in and out, is shuttered as firefighters work in tough conditions.

What we know so far

The Franklin Fire started shortly before 11 p.m. near Malibu Canyon Road and Station Boundary, according to L.A. County Fire officials. City officials said the fire sparked about three miles north of Pacific Coast Highway, and that the cause was not immediately clear.

At around 3 a.m., Malibu officials reported that the fire had spread south over PCH, threatening structures by Malibu Pier, Malibu Road, Malibu Knolls and Sweetwater Mesa

The Pepperdine University student newspaper reported that the campus was “experiencing a power outage” due to the fire, saying school officials had warned at 11:30 p.m. that the fire could grow to 100 acres. An hour later, student journalists reported that the university had not activated shelter-in-place orders, the school’s protocol in case of fire. But by 1 a.m., anyone on campus was told to relocate to the campus center or library.

Later Tuesday, Pepperdine officials said the worst of the fire had moved on and lifted the shelter-in-place order around 7:30 a.m. However, Seaver College’s on-campus final exams have been canceled for the rest of the week. The campus is also offering free dinner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday in Waves Cafe, as no other dining options are open.

City Hall was evacuated around 1 a.m., with the fire burning brush around the building. The city’s Emergency Operations Center has been activated at Calabasas City Hall.

Malibu officials closed all schools for Tuesday, citing the ongoing fire dangers. Malibu Library is also closed, as is Placerita Canyon due to the red flag warning. City Hall, parks, and facilities are closed, and all programs, meetings and events are suspended until further notice, according to the city.

SoCal Edison also reported large swaths of the area without power due to the fire activity, according to its outage map.

Fears that the fire could grow overnight proved warranted. National Weather Service officials reported that winds were expected “to increase to 30 to 40 mph with gusts to 65 mph.” At the same time humidity was expected to remain low — conditions ripe for devastating fires.

Authorities had warned that the danger for fire is particularly high through at least Wednesday.

The basics

• Acreage: 2,851 acres as of Tuesday afternoon
• Containment: 0%
• Structures destroyed: A “minimal” number have likely been destroyed, but officials said they don’t yet have an estimate
• Deaths: None
• Injuries: None
• Personnel: 700 firefighters, water-dropping aircraft deployed

Evacuations

The City of Malibu reports the following mandatory evacuations as of Tuesday afternoon:

• MAL-C111, MAL-C112, MCR-U021A, RMB-U030, SDP-U029-A, MAL-C113-A, according to CalFire (see map below)

Note: an mandatory evacuation is an order by law enforcement to leave immediately due to a serious threat to life and property.

An Emergency Information and Supplies Station has been set up at Zuma Beach, offering updates, food, water, and first aid assistance.

Evacuation warnings

• KAN-U017, MAL-C113, MAL-C113-B, MAL-C113-C MCR-U021-B, MTN-U028, SDP-U029-B, SSM-U010, TOP-U008, VST-U022, according to CalFire

Please note: People with disabilities, seniors with mobility challenges, those who rely on medical devices, and horse owners should consider leaving the area, according to the city of Malibu.

Evacuation shelter

• Palisade Recreation Center, 851 Alma Real Dr., Pacific Palisades (small pets welcome in carriers and crates)
• Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District facility, 2802 Fourth Street, Santa Monica

Small animal evacuation shelter

• Agoura Animal Care Center, 29525 Agoura Rd, Agoura Hills

Large animal evacuation center

• Pierce College in Woodland Hills: 6201 Winnetka Avenue at Victory Boulevard

Road closures

• Pacific Coast Highway is closed, except for evacuations, between Topanga Canyon Blvd and Kanan Dume Road, per Caltrans District 7
  • Traffic signals are out at PCH, Malibu Canyon, and Paradise Cove. City officials warned more signals may go out.
• Las Virgenes Road from Mulholland to Lost Hills
• See additional L.A. County road closures

Hotel discounts, assistance

SoCal Edison has an assistance program for customers experiencing an extended outage. The special rates can be tapped at participating hotels within 20 miles of an outage. Those hotels are listed here.

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