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 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, including various spot fires that erupted as winds pushed the flames forward.
Evacuation warnings were issued for a wide area, stretching all the way to the Leo Carrillo State Park and the coast. Water-dropping helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were dispatched to the scene.
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.