Malibu Wildfire: Santa Ana Winds Fan Blaze, Forcing Evacuations And Threatening Homes

Malibu, California, battled a three-alarm brush fire early Tuesday near Pepperdine University, prompting evacuations as the flames threatened structures in the area.

Dubbed the Franklin Fire, the blaze has already scorched at least 100 acres (40 hectares), according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, local station KTLA-TV reported.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that conditions could worsen as north-to-northeast winds are forecast to reach speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour (48 to 64 kph), with gusts potentially hitting 65 mph (105 kph). These strong Santa Ana winds are notorious for fanning wildfires across Southern California, prompting utilities to cut power to tens of thousands of residents Monday night to reduce the risk of electrical equipment sparking additional blazes.

A red flag warning with a rare “particularly dangerous situation” (PDS) designation was issued by the NWS for Los Angeles and Ventura counties starting Monday evening and extending into Tuesday. This heightened alert signals an elevated risk of wildfires due to dry conditions and strong winds.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for residents living east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road. Authorities urged residents to leave the area immediately to ensure their safety.

Pepperdine University officials stated they are closely monitoring the situation as firefighters work to contain the blaze.