As most of Southern California sits under a red flag warning, a brush fire broke out Monday night in Malibu Canyon, spreading rapidly on hillsides and reaching Pepperdine University.
The fire was reported just before 11 p.m. in the area of Malibu Canyon Road north of Pacific Coast Highway and was initially estimated at just about 10 acres but grew to more than 1,800 acres in about four hours.
A high volume of dry brush in the area and strong Santa Ana winds led to the potential for the blaze to continue to spread rapidly.
As most of Southern California sits under a red flag warning, a brush fire broke out Monday night in Malibu, spreading rapidly on hillsides less than a mile from Pepperdine University.
Evacuation orders and warnings
Evacuations were ordered in the area east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road, north of Pacific Coast Highway, east of Las Virgenes Road and Malibu Road and west of Carbon Beach Terrace as well as the Serra Retreat, a Catholic conference center perched on 26 acres of hilltop land.