Fast-Growing Malibu Wildfire Forces Pepperdine University Students to Shelter in Library: ‘So Scary'

Mar. 15, 2025

A dangerous wildfire is ripping through the Malibu area of California, causing students at one local college to take shelter from the flames overnight.

“Just seeing the flames grow and seeing that bright red color of fire just get brighter and brighter and brighter — it was so scary,” student Gabrielle Salgado toldABC affiliate KABC.

A car drives as the Franklin Fire burns on December 10, 2024 in Malibu, California. The wildfire has scorched 1,800 acres near Pepperdine University prompting evacuations along the coast amid high winds with some structures destroyed.Mario Tama/Getty

Mario Tama/Getty

Less than three hours later, Pepperdine announced the worst ofthe fire had “pushed past” the school.

The shelter-in-place orderwas liftedaround 7:30 a.m. local time, and students were allowed to return to their respective residences. Classes and finals were still canceled for the day.

The Franklin Fire has burned approximately 2,200 acres of land since it started late on Monday, Dec. 9, according toCalFire. As of 8:30 a.m., the fire is 0% contained.

Firefighters battle the Franklin Fire in Malibu, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.AP Photo/Ethan Swope

AP Photo/Ethan Swope

The city of Malibu said thatall schools were closedon Dec. 10 “until further notice."

Red flag warnings have been issued for much of the area “due to damaging Santa Ana Winds,” according to theNational Weather Service.

A firefighter sprays water as the Franklin Fire burns on December 10, 2024 on Malibu, California. The wildfire has scorched 1,800 acres near Pepperdine University prompting evacuations along the coast amid high winds with some structures destroyed.Mario Tama/Getty

The NWS said “there is an increased risk for” new fire to ignite “due to the expected long duration of dangerous fire weather conditions and critically dry fuels” in the area.

“As a result, there is the increasing threat for fire weather conditions to rival other historical fires in recent times including the Mountain and Thomas Fires,” the NWS said.

source: people.com