Ventura Counties through Tuesday afternoon, driven by powerful Santa Ana winds fueling extreme fire weather conditions.
Threat level: The Franklin Fire, a fast-moving and significant wildfire, erupted near Pepperdine University overnight, prompting thousands of evacuations in Malibu.
- The fire rapidly expanded to over 2,600 acres by Tuesday afternoon, according to Cal Fire, with flames reaching the Pacific Coast Highway, forcing road closures.
- Malibu schools have been closed indefinitely, and Pepperdine University briefly issued a shelter-in-place order as flames approached its campus.
- Governor Gavin Newsom announced federal assistance from FEMA to bolster the state’s response efforts.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Los Angeles highlighted this event as an unusually intense Santa Ana wind scenario, with gusts exceeding 90 mph in some areas, particularly over hilly terrain.
Fire behavior: The Franklin Fire has been described as manufacturing its own weather, pulling air toward the fire and intensifying its spread.
- NWS officials warned of "extreme and life-threatening wildfire behavior," comparing the event to past fires like the Mountain Fire of 2013 and the Thomas Fire of 2017, which caused widespread devastation.
- The fire grew from 1 acre to 100 acres in under an hour, underscoring the volatile conditions.
Zoom in: Southern California’s fall Santa Ana wind events are notorious for strong winds, dry air, and cool temperatures that create ideal conditions for wildfires.
- The most severe conditions are expected in western Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County, including Malibu, Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, and Oxnard.
- Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric have warned thousands of customers about potential public safety power shutoffs as a precaution.
Context: These conditions are exacerbated by climate change, which is increasing the frequency of extreme fire weather in the Southwest.
- This year, heat waves followed wet conditions, creating dry vegetation prone to fire.
- While central and northern California have experienced atmospheric river events, Southern California remains dry, extending the Santa Ana wind season’s fire risks into late fall.
The NWS warns that this event represents "the most extreme" fire weather conditions, demanding vigilance as communities face significant danger.
