Photo: Getty Images
A rapidly spreading wildfire, named the Franklin Fire, erupted near Pepperdine University in Malibu on Monday evening (December 9), prompting mandatory evacuations. The blaze, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, began around 10:45 p.m. near Malibu Canyon Road and Station Boundary. By early Tuesday morning, the fire had grown to 1,600 acres with no containment, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for areas east of Malibu Canyon Road, south of Piuma Road, and the Serra Retreat neighborhood, affecting approximately 6,000 people and 2,000 structures. An additional 12,500 people are under evacuation warnings. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning, citing "extreme and life-threatening fire behavior" due to winds gusting up to 80 mph and low humidity.
Pepperdine University activated its shelter-in-place protocol, advising students and staff to remain in designated safe zones like the Tyler Campus Center and Payson Library. Despite evacuation orders in surrounding areas, the university community is instructed to follow university guidelines, as the shelter-in-place protocol is approved by the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Classes and finals have been canceled for Tuesday.
Firefighters are working to protect structures, using helicopters to drop water from lakes in Pepperdine's Alumni Park. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Power outages have been reported as Southern California Edison preemptively shut off power to reduce fire risks. Residents are advised to review emergency plans, including evacuation routes and supplies, and to monitor local news for updates.