LIVE UPDATES: Malibu wildfire spreads to 1,800 acres; Evacuations ordered

Firefighters raced to protect buildings as a fast-spreading wildfire broke out near Pepperdine University in Malibu amid high winds in Santa Ana on Monday evening.

Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded to the blaze, dubbed the Franklin Fire, near Malibu Canyon Road and Station Boundary around 10:45 p.m

As of 4 a.m., the fire was at 1,822 acres with no containment. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

The fast-moving flames prompted mandatory evacuation orders east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road and the Serra Retreat area, firefighters said in a post to X.

At 2:36 a.m., Malibu city officials ordered an evacuation from Tuna Canyon to Puerco Canyon and an evacuation warning from Puerco Canyon to Trancas Canyon.

The fire spread along Malibu Canyon Road just before 1 a.m., causing a dire situation for people in the area. At 3:30 a.m., Malibu city officials said the flames had also spread to the Pacific Coast Highway.

It was not immediately known how many buildings were damaged or destroyed.

Pepperdine University students and staff have been ordered to shelter in place. A spokesperson told KTLA the university is “well-designed” to protect people in the middle of campus.

In a 1:09 a.m. X post, Pepperdine University issued the following warning:

“All community members on the Malibu campus are directed to seek shelter at the Tyler Campus Center or Payson Library. Despite any evacuation orders from the City of Malibu or surrounding areas, the University community should follow the University’s instructions. We are not evacuating the campus, even if surrounding areas may do so – this shelter-in-place protocol is approved by and implemented in collaboration with LA County Fire.”

Normal operations, including classes and final exams, have been canceled for Tuesday, the university said.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District also closed all schools in Malibu on Tuesday due to the fire, power outages and “other fire issues.” The closures include Webster Elementary, Malibu Elementary, Malibu Middle School and Malibu High School.

California Highway Patrol officers closed portions of the Pacific Coast Highway, from Carbon Canyon to Corral Canyon, so evacuees could easily leave.

Malibu Canyon Road was closed from Mulholland Highway to Pacific Coast Highway.

At the Palisades Recreation Center at 851 Alma Real Dr. An evacuation center was opened in Pacific Palisades.

The City of Malibu posted at 1:25 a.m. on

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for areas in Los Angeles and Ventura counties as warm, dry Santa Ana winds produced gusts of up to 80 mph.

In a post to

Stay with KTLA 5 News for updates on this developing story.