Pepperdine canceled classes for the day and students were ordered to shelter-in-place again.
MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- Firefighters are battling a brush fire in Malibu near Pepperdine University, prompting evacuations amid dangerous fire conditions due to strong Santa Ana winds.
The Franklin Fire was reported just before 11 p.m. Monday in the area of Malibu Canyon Road north of Pacific Coast Highway. It started at just about 10 acres but has since grown to more than 3,000 acres as of late Tuesday.
Pepperdine canceled classes and finals for the day and there was a shelter-in-place order as flames could be seen from the campus. Power to tens of thousands of people had been shut off by Monday night as utilities worked to mitigate the impacts of the winds, whose strong gusts can damage electrical equipment and spark wildfires.
At least seven structures were reported destroyed and another eight damaged as of Tuesday night.
A real-time map provided by fire officials showed the perimeter and evacuation areas of the massive Franklin Fire.
The map on the Los Angeles County Fire Department website reflected the mandatory evacuation order that covered the area east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road, as well as the Serra Retreat area.
A preliminary aerial assessment estimates that seven structures have been destroyed and eight structures damaged, L.A. County Fire Department Chief Anthony C. Marrone said at a news conference Tuesday evening.
Pepperdine University lifted a shelter in place protocol Tuesday morning. At 4:30 p.m., students were ordered again to shelter in the campus center or library.
"Fire activity around Pepperdine's Malibu campus has greatly diminished as the Franklin Fire has burned through most of the fuel immediately surrounding campus, but some flames are still visible in small pockets of campus," the university said on its website.
There has been "little to no damage" to structures around campus.
Fire officials said the evacuation order area encompassed about 6,000 people and more than 2,000 structures. The evacuation warning area covered 12,500 people and more than 6,000 structures.
Mandatory evacuations
Evacuation warnings
MAP: Franklin Fire in Malibu evacuations
Road closures
Related story: Malibu fire road closures
Evacuation centers
The wildfire was reaching the edges of the Pepperdine campus on the first night of the fire, according to several videos posted online by students. The university was also reporting power outages on campus. A shelter in place order was issued and a second order was issued Tuesday afternoon.
Some videos showed trees on fire near the library where students were sheltering inside.
Firefighting helicopters dipped into the school's lakes in Alumni Park to help with water drops.
On Tuesday night, the university said fire activity around the campus had "greatly diminished" but some flames were still visible. An announcement will be made Wednesday morning regarding possibly lifting a shelter-in-place order.
According to the city of Malibu, the fire has spread over Pacific Coast Highway and is threatening structures near the Malibu Pier and Malibu, Malibu Knolls and Sweetwater Mesa roads.
Thousands of people were forced to evacuate in Malibu after a brush fire broke out overnight. One woman told Eyewitness News she evacuated with her boss and barely had time to gather anything, apart from some sentimental items.
She became emotional and she described what she experienced as she tried to escape the flames.
"I can't believe it.. I want to scream and cry but what can I do?"
One of her main concerns was her livestock. She was only able to free one horse, but said two others managed to escape and run away.
"The horses were back at the house. I couldn't get them but, at least, I feel a little bit OK because I feel like I released them... I'm just hoping for the best."
