A wildfire spread quickly through Malibu early Tuesday morning, prompting evacuations along the coast and orders to shelter-in-place at Pepperdine University.
Los Angeles County firefighters responded to a brushfire call at 10:50 p.m. Monday before strong Santa Ana winds quickly escalated the fire’s severity. The fire launched across the Pacific Coast Highway near the Malibu Pier at about 3 a.m. Tuesday as hundreds of firefighters struggled to contain the fire amid 50-80 mph winds.
The Franklin fire burned approximately 2,200 acres across east Malibu by 7 a.m. Roughly 6,000 residents live in the evacuation zone. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the fire had no containment as roughly 2,000 structures were threatened by the evacuation order that eventually extended to west LA, including much of the Santa Monica Mountains.
Firefighters had an opportunity to make progress against the flames when winds slowed down around daybreak. Firefighting helicopters used water from the lakes at Pepperdine’s Alumni Park to douse the flames, said the university.
At a press conference Tuesday morning, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said a minimal number of homes were destroyed, and there have been no reports of serious injuries or fatalities. The Southern California coastal region remains under immediate threat and red flag conditions, a continuation of Monday’s “extremely critical” fire alert as the region faced intense winds.
The current red flag warning is expected to stay active until Wednesday at 8 a.m. as strong winds and low humidities stretch into tomorrow. The LA County Fire Department launched an investigation into the origins of the brush fire.
Areas all across LA are at risk from the Franklin fire, including Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Santa Clarita, Santa Paulina, Calabasas, and more, leaving about 18,000 people in the affected regions.
More than 700 firefighters are currently assigned to the Franklin fire, as wind gusts as strong as 60 mph are expected Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The City of Malibu schools and Pepperdine will be suspended Tuesday as people shelter in place and prepare to evacuate.
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Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s (D-CA) office announced early Tuesday morning that he secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, giving firefighting costs an extra boost.
“Fire officials and first responders are working relentlessly to protect lives and property. I urge all residents in affected areas to stay alert and follow evacuation orders,” Newsom wrote on X.
