Driven by fierce winds, a brush fire raced through open terrain in Malibu Thursday, burning near Los Angeles County’s Camp Kilpatrick juvenile detention facility and prompting evacuation orders and warnings as it rapidly spread through thick brush.
The fire broke out shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday near the camp on Encinal Canyon Road west of Mulholland Highway, according to fire officials.
Within 30 minutes, the fire was estimated at about 20 acres, and after a little more than an hour it grew to 80 acres, including various spot fires that erupted as winds pushed the flames forward. Incident commanders issued a second alarm, summoning additional crews to help subdue the fire.
Evacuation warnings were issued for a wide area, stretching west and south to the coast. An evacuation order was subsequently issued in the more immediate area, including Zuma and Trancas canyons. There was no immediate word on whether Camp Kilpatrick might evacuated. Reports from the scene indicated the detainees and staff were sheltering in place.
Water- and retardant-dropping helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were dispatched to the scene to help subdue the flames, which were burning in largely inaccessible terrain.
There were no reports of any injuries, and there was no immediate word on what caused the blaze.
The fire erupted amid gusting Santa Ana winds that prompted red flag warnings of critical fire danger across much of the Southland. The warnings will be in place through at least Saturday.