Flames burned near Pepperdine University and forced thousands in the coastal city to evacuate.
MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- Firefighters are battling a wind-driven brush fire in Malibu that prompted evacuation orders and warnings for much of the city and caused Pepperdine University students to shelter in place on campus for two nights.
The Franklin Fire was reported just before 11 p.m. Monday in the area of Malibu Canyon Road north of Pacific Coast Highway. The blaze has since grown to 4,037 acres and containment stands at 30%.
At least nine structures were reported destroyed and another six damaged as of Wednesday evening. The cause of the fire is unknown.
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.
Fire officials said the voluntary 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.
Voluntary mandatory evacuations
Evacuation warnings
MAP: Franklin Fire in Malibu evacuations
Road closures
Soft closures: Open only to residents with identification
Hard closures:
Related story: Malibu fire road closures
Evacuation centers
During a press conference on Tuesday, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said the cause of the Franklin Fire in Malibu remains unknown.
"The L.A. County Fire Department and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department are going to join forces with our arson investigators, because it's going to be critical that we learn why this fire started," he said.
A "minimal number of homes" were destroyed in the fire, but an exact number was not available, fire officials said during a press conference Tuesday.
The shelter-in-place order at Pepperdine University has been lifted, according to the school.
"Campus conditions are safe for members of the community to return to student residences and on-campus homes," said the school in a statement. "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, be aware of ongoing fire suppression efforts on campus, and limit driving on campus to allow first responders easy access to spot fires which continue to flare up around campus."
Pepperdine said power remains out for much of the campus and the Malibu area so officials are asking people to avoid using elevators.
The red flag warning continues and if conditions worsen, Pepperdine said it may have to reinstitute the shelter-in-place order.
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.
