Driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, the Franklin Fire in Malibu Canyon grew to more than 2,800 acres Tuesday on the hillsides near Pepperdine University, with about 2,000 structures under mandatory evacuation orders, but with only a "minimal" number of homes destroyed and no injuries reported.
The blaze began shortly before 11 p.m. Monday in a Malibu Canyon area where a high volume of dry brush contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze. It erupted in the midst of a rare "particularly dangerous situation red flag warning" issued by the National Weather Service in response to strong wind gusts and dramatically dry conditions.
The cause of the fire was still under investigation.
At an 8 a.m. multi-agency briefing Tuesday, Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone said the fire was listed at more than 2,200 acres, with no reported containment. By late afternoon, Cal Fire put the size of the fire at 2,851 acres.
More than 700 firefighters were battling the blaze Tuesday morning, aided by a fleet of water- and retardant-dropping aircraft, including Super Scoopers and eight Cal Fire S2-T tankers, which are capable of dropping 1,200 gallons of retardant. The number of people battling the blaze grew throughout the day, likely topping 1,000 by Tuesday afternoon.
The "particularly dangerous situation red flag warning" expired at 2 p.m. Tuesday for the Malibu coast, but standard red flag conditions are scheduled to remain in place until 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the NWS. Fire crews rushed to take advantage of lower wind speeds Tuesday afternoon, before an anticipated rebound in gusts in the evening hours.
Peak wind gusts of nearly 50 mph were recorded in the Malibu area overnight, according to the NWS.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the sheriff's department deployed more than 150 personnel in law enforcement operations, including evacuations, road closures, and security patrols.
Luna said that as of Tuesday morning there were about 18,000 people and 8,100 structures affected by evacuations, with about 2,000 structures under mandatory evacuation orders, and the others under voluntary evacuation warnings. It was unclear how those numbers may have changed throughout the day.
Damage to buildings was difficult to assess overnight due to darkness and heavy smoke. Flames reportedly reached the Serra Retreat area at 1 a.m. Tuesday -- prompting participants in a women's retreat at the facility to evacuate -- and the fire jumped Malibu Canyon Road. At least one building in the retreat areas was reported to have been destroyed Tuesday.
Malibu City Hall was also within the evacuation area and was cleared overnight. The city moved its Emergency Operations Center to a temporary location in Calabasas.
Pepperdine University reported power outages and activated a shelter-in-place protocol during the overnight hours for students and staff, who were herded into a library and cafeteria area.
However, about 8 a.m. Tuesday, Pepperdine officials announced in a statement on social media that a post-daybreak reassessment of conditions had led to a lifting of the shelter in place protocol at the campus.
"Campus conditions are safe for members of the community to return to student residences and on-campus homes. The community is strongly encouraged to remain on campus and stay off Malibu roads as first responders continue to respond to the Franklin fire, which continues to threaten Malibu. Additionally, ongoing fire suppression efforts on campus continue, and residents are encouraged to limit driving on campus to allow first responders to respond to spot fires which continue to flare up around campus. Power remains out for much of the campus and Malibu area. The red flag warning continues as gusty winds remain. If conditions worsen, we may have to reinstitute our shelter in place protocol," the Pepperdine statement said.
Pepperdine President Jim Gash announced to students that final exams were postponed and normal operations were suspended on the campus Tuesday.
"There are numerous LA County Fire Department engines on campus and their helicopters are using the lakes in Alumni Park to pick up water to drop on the fire from above," Pepperdine University posted. Most of the campus was still without power as of midday Tuesday.
All Malibu schools within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District were closed Tuesday, according to the district. It was unclear if they will reopen Wednesday.
The Los Angeles Fire Department deployed three strike teams (15 fire engines with three battalion chiefs) to assist Los Angeles County with the fire, said LAFD spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. Other crews were dispatched from across the state.
Pacific Coast Highway was closed between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Kanan Dume Road. Las Virgenes Road was closed at Mulholland Highway to Lost Hills. Malibu Canyon Road was also closed between Mulholland and PCH. Topanga Canyon Boulevard was closed previously in response to the fire danger, with only residents being permitted in that area.
An evacuation shelter was established at Palisades Recreation Center, 851 Alma Real Drive in Pacific Palisades. Another shelter was established at an SMMUSD facility at 2802 Fourth St. in Santa Monica.
Animal shelters are set up at Agoura Animal Care Center in Agoura Hills and Pierce College in Woodland Hills for larger animals.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger signed a local declaration of emergency in response to the fire early Tuesday morning. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the state had already secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist with the firefight.
"Fire officials and first responders are working relentlessly to protect lives and property from the Franklin Fire," Newsom said in a statement. "California is grateful for this federal support, which bolsters these efforts. I urge all residents in affected areas to stay alert and follow evacuation orders."