A rapidly expanding wildfire has led to mandatory evacuations in Malibu and a shelter-in-place directive at Pepperdine University, California, as strong winds caused the fire to triple in size within an hour early Tuesday morning.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s live tracker indicates that the Franklin Fire, which started on Monday night, has now grown to approximately 1,822 acres in Los Angeles County.
City authorities have issued mandatory evacuation orders for nearly all of eastern Malibu, while the rest of the city remains under evacuation warnings.
Pepperdine University has issued a shelter-in-place order for campus residents, which will stay in effect until daylight due to widespread power outages in Malibu.
The wildfire’s rapid spread is being driven by the Santa Ana winds, known for their high speeds in Southern California’s coastal regions.
The National Weather Service’s Los Angeles Office has forecasted north to northeast winds in the area, with speeds ranging from 30 to 40 miles per hour and gusts up to 65 mph.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stated that her office is closely monitoring the situation and urged residents to comply with public safety directives.