Malibu fire prompts evacuations at Pepperdine University

Firefighters battled a brushfire early Tuesday in Malibu, California, near Pepperdine University, leading to evacuations in the area. 

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 Associated Press reported, citing a university statement.

The AP reported power to tens of thousands of people had been shut off by Monday night as utilities worked to mitigate the impacts of Southern California’s notorious Santa Ana winds, whose strong gusts could damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires.

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. 

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. 

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 is helping 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.

Around 1 a.m., the fire started to creep towards nearby areas. As of 1 a.m. on Tuesday, officials did not give an estimate of damage caused by the fire.