Pepperdine University is experiencing significant disruption due to the Franklin Fire, which has prompted a shelter-in-place order affecting the campus community. The fire, which ignited late Monday, has rapidly spread in Malibu, leading to a mandatory evacuation for the eastern half of the city.

As of early Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Fire Department has reported that the Franklin Fire has scorched over 1,822 acres, with zero containment efforts established. The blaze has been fueled by intense Santa Ana winds, pushing flames across the Pacific Coast Highway and threatening numerous structures in the area.

The evacuation order affects about 6,000 residents in Malibu, impacting nearly all of the city’s population of approximately 11,000. More than 2,000 structures are under evacuation warnings as officials continue to monitor the situation.

According to Pepperdine University’s latest updates, power outages are being experienced across much of Malibu. ‘The University understands the worst of the fire has pushed past Pepperdine,’ stated an alert from the university, adding that smaller spot fires on campus were not threatening life or buildings.

Community members were directed to take shelter in the Tyler Campus Center and Payson Library while firefighting efforts continue. The Emergency Operations Committee remains active in providing updates and response coordination.

A Malibu city councilmember described the harrowing experience of evacuating with his family as flames approached their home. ‘The lawn and trees around the home were just burning wild,’ he recounted, as he and his family packed essential belongings and fled south along Pacific Coast Highway.

Firefighting crews from various jurisdictions, including Orange and Ventura Counties, have joined in the efforts to contain the blaze, which has become increasingly robust. Firefighting helicopters have been deploying water from nearby lakes at Pepperdine University to assist ground crews.

While there have been no reported injuries or significant structural damage as of yet, officials are treating the situation with urgency as they continue to monitor changing weather conditions. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the region due to the combination of dry conditions, low humidity, and powerful winds.

As the situation continues to develop, residents are encouraged to stay informed through official channels, and those within the affected areas are urged to remain aware of evacuation protocols and safety measures. For consistent updates, residents may visit the Los Angeles County incident response website.