Franklin Fire explodes in Malibu, prompting shelter-in-place protocols at Pepperdine and evacuations
SUMMARY
The Franklin Fire in Malibu Canyon has rapidly grown to nearly 2,000 acres as Southern California faces extreme fire weather conditions, including Santa Ana winds, low humidity, and dry vegetation. Breaking out late Monday night, the blaze has crossed the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), threatening structures, including Malibu Pier, and prompting mandatory evacuations. Pepperdine University issued a shelter-in-place directive early Tuesday, directing campus members to remain in designated safe areas. Evacuations are mandated east of Malibu Canyon Road, south of Piuma Road, and in the Serra Retreat area, with the Palisades Recreation Center serving as an evacuation center. The fire’s spread, fueled by wind gusts of 50-80 mph, has placed Malibu under a rare “particularly dangerous situation” (PDS) red flag warning, with additional areas across Southern California on high alert. Firefighters are battling the blaze, with containment at 0% as of Tuesday morning.
