A large brush fire raging through Malibu prompted evacuations and closures early Tuesday morning.
The Franklin Fire started just before 11 p.m. Monday. As of 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, the fire had burned 3,049 acres, according to CalFire.
Just before 3:30 a.m., the fire spread “south across PCH to Malibu Rd near Webb Way & across PCH into the Malibu Pier area. Malibu Pier & other structures, & structures on Malibu Knolls Rd & Sweetwater Cyn are impacted," per a Malibu emergency alert.
During a press conference, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed some homes burned, but did not give an exact number.
"Because of the great work of the firefighters that were on scene, we have only a minimal number of homes destroyed," he said. "Thankfully, we have no reports of serious injuries or fatalities and we remain under an immediate threat because of the red flag conditions."
He added that the red flag warning is estimated to continue through 8 p.m. Wednesday.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory due to the fire, in effect until at least 5 p.m. Wednesday. People in the area were urged to avoid using swamp coolers or whole-house fans that bring in outside air, and residents were asked not to burn wood in fireplaces or fire pits.
"Smoke from the Franklin Fire is expected to most heavily impact Northwest coastal Los Angeles County including Malibu and areas near the fire on Tuesday and through Wednesday morning," according to the agency. "PM2.5 levels due to smoke may reach the Unhealthy AQI category or higher in these areas, with the highest AQI levels expected immediately adjacent to the fire."
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L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said in the press conference that deputies started letting people know about evacuation orders just after midnight.
“There are approximately 18,000 people and 8,100 structures in the affected area,” he said. “Of the 8,100 structures, 2,043 structures are under evacuation orders, and 6,046 are under evacuation warnings.”
He added that sheriff's department deployed more than 150 personnel in law enforcement to assist with evacuations, road closures, and security patrols.
Luna said the fire damaged a patrol car but the deputy inside escaped without injury.
Malibu Mayor Pro Tem Marianne Riggins said the emergency operation center is running out of Calabasas City Hall because Malibu City Hall is in the evacuation zone.
“We do have staff that are monitoring the situation,” she said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X that she was monitoring the fire.
"LAFD has provided more than 15 engines in mutual aid response and remains ready and vigilant to respond to any incidents in L.A.," she wrote. "Our Emergency Management Department and Recreation and Parks Department worked to establish shelter with the Red Cross to assist those who evacuated."
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Pacific Coast Highway is closed except for evacuations between Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Corral Canyon Rd, according to Caltrans District 7. It's also closed in both directions between Kanan Dume Rd and Topanga Canyon Blvd.
CHP Officer Luis Quintero called it a “soft closure.”
“Right now, our officers are only letting emergency personnel as well anybody that actually lives in the area and they are checking IDs,” he told L.A.’s Morning News.
The following roads are closed according to L.A. County Public Works:
-- Malibu Canyon Road
-- Mulholland Highway to Pacific Coast Highway
-- Santa Monica Mountains
-- City of Malibu
-- Old Topanga Canyon Road
-- Mulholland Highway to Topanga Canyon Blvd
EVACUATIONS:
Mandatory evacuations went into effect from Tuna Creek to Carbon Beach, Carbon Beach to Puerco Canyon, and Puerco Canyon to Trancas Canyon, according to a city alert.
Per L.A. County officials, evacuations warnings are in place in the following areas:
-- East of Las Virgenes between Mulholland Highway to the north and Piuma Road to the South.
-- Between Stunt Road to the north and Los Flores to the South.
-- East of Carbon Beach Terrace, West of Old Malibu Road, North of Pacific Crest highway to the evacuation order boundary.
--Malibu Canyon Road, from Piuma Road to Pacific Coast Highway
For more information on evacuations, click here.
SHELTERS:
Palisades Recreation Center at 851 Alma Real Dr. has been named an evacuation center and is accepting pets in carriers or crates.
Shelter for large animals is available at Pierce College at 6201 Winnetka Ave.
Shelter for small animals is available at Agoura Animal Care Center at 29525 Agoura Rd.
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SCHOOL IMPACTS:
At 2:44 a.m., officials with Pepperdine University announced on X that normal operations on campus were suspended and that classes and finals were cancelled for the day.
“The Pepperdine community continues to shelter in place in Payson Library and the Tyler Campus Center” officials wrote.
Just before 3:30 a.m., school officials said that while the worst of the fire passed the school, "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."
At 8:05 a.m., Pepperdine University officials announced the shelter-in-place protocol was lifted.
"Campus conditions are safe for members of the community to return to student residences and on-campus homes," a post on the university's X account read. "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."
Officials with the city of Malibu wrote on X that all schools were closed until further notice.
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