Firefighters tackled a wildfire in Malibu on Tuesday morning, leading to evacuations near Pepperdine University.
The cause of the Franklin Fire remains unknown, but Los Angeles County Fire Department officials estimated that it had burned at least 2.8 square miles (7.2 square kilometres) and threatened structures.
The fire spread amid hazardous conditions, fuelled by Southern California’s infamous Santa Ana winds. The evacuation order affected around 6,000 people and more than 2,000 structures, according to fire officials cited by KABC-TV.
Though a damage estimate wasn’t immediately available, Matt Myerhoff, a spokesperson for Malibu, said, “It’s certain some number of homes are definitely going to be badly damaged.”
He added that the fire had moved south, jumping over the Pacific Coast Highway and reaching the ocean. The historic Malibu Pier was threatened but ultimately remained intact.
Pepperdine University cancelled classes and exams for the day, issuing a shelter-in-place order. Fire engines were deployed on campus, and helicopters dropped water from the school’s Alumni Park lakes onto the fire.
Pepperdine stated online, “The university understands 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 National Weather Service in Los Angeles forecast that north to northeast winds would increase to 30 to 40 mph (48 to 64 kph), with gusts up to 65 mph (105 kph). By Monday night, power to tens of thousands had been shut off to mitigate the impact of the Santa Ana winds, which can damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires.
Santa Ana winds, known for being dry, warm, and gusty, blow from the interior of Southern California towards the coast and offshore. They typically occur from autumn through winter and into early spring.
The Weather Service issued a red flag warning for high fire risk, with a rare “particularly dangerous situation” (PDS) designation starting at 8 pm Monday and continuing into Tuesday for Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Frances Ibiefo
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