victory casino Malibu fire destroys homes, forces evacuations and school closures

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Screencap/ABC7 video via AP

MALIBU – Driven by fierce Santa Ana winds, the Franklin Fire in Malibu Canyon grew to more than 2,500 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 was reported 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.

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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. At about midday, Cal Fire put the size of the fire at 2,667 acres.

More than 700 firefighters were battling the blaze, 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. Fire officials said the number of people battling the blaze could reach 1,000 by later in the day.

The “particularly dangerous situation red flag warning” was scheduled to expire at 2 p.m. Tuesday for the Malibu coast, but standard red flag conditions were expected to continue until 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the NWS. Fire crews were hoping to take advantage of lower wind speeds Tuesday afternoon, before an anticipated rebound in gusts in the evening hours.

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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 has deployed more than 150 personnel in law enforcement operations, including evacuations, road closures, and security patrols. Road closures include “hard closures” at Las Virgenes Road and Mulholland Highway, and on Pacific Coast Highway between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Kanan Dume Road, Luna said.

Shortly after midnight, multiple evacuation orders and warnings were issued between Trancas Canyon and Topanga Canyon Boulevard, and areas south of Mulholland Highway to Pacific Coast Highway, Luna said.

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According to Luna, there were about 18,000 people and 8,100 structures in the affected area. Of the 8,100 structures, about 2,000 structures were under evacuation orders, and the others were under evacuation warnings, Luna said.

The mandatory evacuation order was issued by the Los Angeles County Fire Department covering the area south of Piuma Road, north of the Pacific Ocean coastline, east of Puerco Canyon Road/Corral Canyon Park and west of Los Flores Canyon Road; as well as the area between the Pacific Ocean coastline and Tuna Canyon Park to the west of Tuna Canyon Road.

Evacuation warnings were in place for the area east of Trancas Canyon Road and Kanan Dune Road, west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard/Surfview Drive, south of Mulholland Highway and north of the Evacuation Order boundary.

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.

Malibu City Hall is 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 for students and staff who were herded into a library and cafeteria area overnight.

However, about 8 a.m., 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 finals were canceled 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.

The Franklin Fire was visible from the Malibu campus, according to social media posts from Pepperdine University and students.

All Malibu schools within the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District were closed Tuesday, according to the district.

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.

Resident Robert Moran told NBC4 he was ready to leave his home, where he has lived for 40 years, “in a moment’s notice” if order to do so. “We have a plan, and if you stick to your plan, you’ll be OK,” he said.

Sheriff’s helicopters began water drops in certain areas around 4:30 a.m.

Pacific Coast Highway was closed from Carbon Canyon to Corral Canyon.

Other local road closures were put in place, in addition to a previously announced closure of Topanga Canyon Boulevard that was put in place due to the critical fire danger conditions. Malibu Canyon Road from Mullholland Highway to Pacific Coast Highway will be closed to the public and only emergency vehicles will be allowed access.

An evacuation shelter was established at Palisades Recreation Center, 851 Alma Real Drive in Pacific Palisades.

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.” (CNS)

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