2 weeks Ago By Associated Press
A firefighter sprays water on a home as it burns in the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Firefighters battle the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) A car drives past flames from the Franklin Fire at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Embers fly as the Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) A vehicle burns during the Franklin Fire on the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Firefighters prepare hoses during the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Firefighters protect a structure as the Franklin Fire approaches in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Firefighters are pushed back by gusty winds while removing fuel around the faculty and staff residences at Pepperdine University as the Franklin Fire approaches in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A Los Angeles County firefighter battles the Franklin Fire at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.
, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C.
Hong) Embers fly in gusty winds as two Los Angeles County firefighters battle the Franklin Fire at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A person evacuates a residence at Pepperdine University as the Franklin Fire approaches in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Firefighters are pushed back by gusty winds while removing fuel around the faculty and staff residences at Pepperdine University as the Franklin Fire approaches in Malibu, Calif.
, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C.
Hong) Vegetation around the Phillips Theme Tower at Pepperdine University is scorched by the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Firefighters battle the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Firefighters battle the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) A person walks along Malibu Canyon road as the Franklin Fire approaches in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) A home burns in the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., Tuesday, Dec.
10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) A woman evacuates a horse as the Franklin Fire burns in Malibu, Calif.
, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) A firefighter sprays water on a home as it burns in the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif.
, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C.
Hong) By JAE HONG, ERIC THAYER and CHRISTOPHER WEBER MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — Thousands of Southern California residents were under evacuation orders and warnings Tuesday as firefighters battled a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu that burned near seaside mansions and Pepperdine University, where students sheltering at the school’s library watched as the blaze intensified and the sky turned deep red. A “minimal number” of homes burned, but the exact amount wasn’t immediately known, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony C.
Marrone said. More than 8,100 homes and other structures were under threat, including more than 2,000 where residents have been ordered to evacuate. Another 6,000 people were warned to be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice Ryan Song, a resident assistant at Pepperdine University, said he first noticed the power went out at his dorm late Monday and then looked out the window and saw a huge pink glow.
“I thought this is too bright, and it got bigger and bigger,” the 20-year-old junior said. “I immediately went outside and saw that it was a real fire.” Song and the other resident assistants went door to door, evacuating students.
Most were calm and followed instructions, he said; a few who were scared rushed to their cars to get off campus. Song spent the next few hours racing back and forth in the dark between his dorm and the main campus to ensure no one was left behind as fire raged down a mountain, he said. “It felt really close,” he said, adding he was probably less than a mile away.
“Seeing the fire rampaging down the hill is obviously scary for students but I felt like our staff was prepared.” The university later said the worst of the fire had pushed past campus. It was not immediately known how the blaze, named the Franklin Fire, started.
County fire officials estimated that more than 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers) of trees and dry brush had burned and structures were threatened. There was no containment.
The fire burned amid dangerous fire conditions because of notorious Santa Ana winds expected to last into Wednesday. Marrone said at least a thousand firefighters would be scrambling to get a handle on the blaze before 2 p.m.
, when winds were expected to regain strength. “Time is of the essence for us to grab a hold of the fire and start getting some containment,” the chief said at a morning news conference. The fire erupted shortly before 11 p.
m. Tuesday and swiftly moved south, jumping over the famous Pacific Coast Highway and extending all the way to the ocean, where large homes line the beach and inland canyons are notoriously fire prone. At one point, it had threatened the historic Malibu Pier, but the structure was protected and is intact, officials said.
Pepperdine canceled classes and finals for the day and there was a shelter-in-place order on campus. Helicopters dropped water collected from lakes in the school’s Alumni Park onto the flames. Firefighters with flashlights and hoses protected nearby homes overnight, ABC 7 reported.
As the sun came up Tuesday, smoke billowed over the campus and the adjacent mountains that plunge toward the coast. “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,” Pepperdine posted in a statement online.
North to northeast winds were forecast to increase to 30 to 40 mph (48 to 64 kph) with gusts up to 65 mph (105 kph) expected, the National Weather Service’s office for Los Angeles posted on X. Related Articles National News | Justice Department ignored some policies when seizing reporters’ phone records, watchdog finds National News | Development of Virginia data centers could triple energy demands if unconstrained, report says National News | Well-known Virginia Tech professor Nikki Giovanni remembered as talented poet and literary celebrity National News | Today in History: December 10, Teddy Roosevelt first American to win Nobel Prize National News | Details emerge about suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Power to about 40,000 customers had been shut off by Monday night , including 11,000 in LA County, as Southern California Edison worked to mitigate the impacts of the Santa Ana winds, whose strong gusts can damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires. Email and phone messages were left with Edison inquiring whether electricity had been turned off in Malibu before the fire started.
The Woolsey Fire that roared through Malibu in 2018, killing three people and destroying 1,600 homes, was sparked by Edison equipment. Santa Anas are dry, warm and gusty northeast winds that blow from the interior of Southern California toward the coast and offshore. They typically occur during the fall months and continue through winter and into early spring.
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.
Associated Press journalists Amy Taxin in Orange County, California, and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Colonial Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination has echoes across the US Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination has echoes across the US New York prosecutors charge suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing with murder, court records show New York prosecutors charge suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing with murder, court records show Cause of underground fire at Williamsburg Premium Outlets still unknown — and may stay that way, fire chief says Cause of underground fire at Williamsburg Premium Outlets still unknown — and may stay that way, fire chief says Disney influencer Dominique Brown dies at 34 after allergic reaction at food event, report says Disney influencer Dominique Brown dies at 34 after allergic reaction at food event, report says Chesapeake man charged after shooting at Suffolk church staff member Chesapeake man charged after shooting at Suffolk church staff member Inside Business recognizes 2024 Women in Business honorees Inside Business recognizes 2024 Women in Business honorees Former NFL player opens Newport News youth empowerment center Former NFL player opens Newport News youth empowerment center David Teel: An exclusive look behind the curtain at ACC headquarters on bowl selection Sunday David Teel: An exclusive look behind the curtain at ACC headquarters on bowl selection Sunday Well-known Virginia Tech professor Nikki Giovanni remembered as talented poet and literary celebrity Well-known Virginia Tech professor Nikki Giovanni remembered as talented poet and literary celebrity The Dome, Virginia Beach’s upcoming venue, is booking shows. Here’s what’s coming.
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