A rapidly spreading bushfire in Malibu has led officials to issue mandatory evacuation orders as firefighters struggle to contain the blaze. The three-alarm fire, known as the “Franklin Fire,” was initially reported around 10:45 p.m. Monday near Malibu Canyon Road, close to Pepperdine University, where a mandatory shelter-in-place order is currently in effect.

Video shared on X shows students seeking refuge inside a library as fierce flames and smoke are visible through a window. “Regardless of any evacuation orders issued by the city of Malibu or surrounding areas, the University community should adhere to University directives,” Pepperdine University stated on social media. “We do not evacuate the campus even when neighboring areas might—this shelter-in-place protocol is approved by LA County Fire and carried out with their cooperation.”

The ferocious fire has already consumed 1,674 acres with no containment, and hundreds of structures are in danger of being destroyed by the flames, according to Cal Fire. Early Tuesday morning, the Los Angeles County Fire Department announced mandatory evacuation orders for areas east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road, as well as the Serra Retreat area.

A mandatory evacuation order was also issued for Malibu Pier, Malibu Village Mall, and City Hall by 1:45 a.m. PDT due to the “immediate threat to life.” Officials have closed a five-mile stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway from Carbon Canyon to Corral Canyon.

Late Monday night, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department went door-to-door in Malibu, using loudspeakers to urge residents to evacuate. The cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed. The flames, driven by strong winds, reached the Serra Retreat area around 1 a.m. Tuesday, posing a threat to nearby structures.

The National Weather Service reported winds of up to 45 mph with gusts reaching 65 mph in the area. Multiple water-dropping aircraft were deployed to assist in combating the massive fire. The National Weather Service has issued a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warning for large parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

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