(Cupventi.com) – Early Tuesday morning, chaos unfolded at Pepperdine University, a Christian school nestled in Malibu’s picturesque hills. Nearly 3,000 students, faculty, and staff faced a harrowing ordeal as the Franklin Fire, driven by fierce winds, tore through the Santa Monica Mountains, forcing evacuations across the coastal city.
With power and cell service down, students clad in pajamas gathered in the campus library and center. Outside, they watched in growing terror as flames devoured palm trees and crept ominously closer. Helicopters hovered above, scooping water from the campus pond to combat the inferno. Some students called loved ones; others turned to prayer.
The Franklin Fire, which began late Monday, had burned nearly 3,900 acres by early Wednesday, fueled by gusts exceeding 60 miles per hour. Malibu residents, including celebrities, scrambled to escape as evacuation orders expanded. The iconic Pacific Coast Highway was partially shut down as flames leapt across it, threatening the historic Malibu Pier.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone assured residents that firefighters would persist in their efforts. “Rest assured, we are going to have a coordinated air and ground assault on this fire for as long as it takes,” he said.
By Tuesday evening, roughly 18,000 people were in evacuation zones, and Malibu officials confirmed that some homes had been damaged or destroyed, though no injuries or deaths had been reported.
Malibu’s idyllic reputation as a haven for the affluent has been increasingly tested in recent years. Heavy rains have caused mudslides that block key roads, and rising sea levels threaten multimillion-dollar homes along the coastline. Wildfires, however, remain the most immediate and devastating threat.
Six years ago, the Woolsey Fire killed three people and destroyed hundreds of homes in the area. The current wildfire season, exacerbated by extreme winds and dry conditions, has proven equally perilous. Earlier this month, the Mountain Fire burned nearly 20,000 acres in Ventura County.
Even high-profile residents have not been spared. Nonagenarian actor Dick Van Dyke revealed on Facebook that he and his wife had evacuated their home, although one of their cats had escaped in the process. “We’re praying he’ll be OK and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires,” he wrote.
The singer Cher also fled to safety with her pets, staying at a hotel while awaiting updates. Meanwhile, the Getty Villa, home to an esteemed collection of Greek and Roman antiquities, remained unscathed but was closed to visitors through Friday.
Pepperdine University activated its wildfire protocol, advising students and staff to shelter in place—a strategy developed with fire officials. While the majority of its nearly 9,000 students and staff live off-campus, those on-site faced a long night of uncertainty.
Freshman Charis Kai recounted how her dormitory resident adviser woke her with urgent knocking. She quickly packed essentials and joined others in the library, where the scent of smoke was inescapable.
“There was a lot of anxiety going on, because everyone was shouting things, like, ‘It’s coming closer, we’re going to die,’” she said. Kai eventually turned away from the windows, realizing the sight of encroaching flames only amplified her fears.
Sophomore Michael Robinson described a mounting panic as power outages disrupted communication. “We weren’t really too concerned at the beginning, but then the power went out, and people started freaking out,” he said.
Campus activities ground to a halt, with final exams canceled for the week. For some, evacuation was the only option.
Humanities professor Jessica Hooten Wilson fled with her husband and four children, leaving behind belongings as they drove through smoke-filled air. “I didn’t know if our friends were OK,” she said. “We were just driving away with the flames in the hills in the background.”
With more than 700 firefighters battling the Franklin Fire, authorities have made some progress, but challenges remain. The high winds that spread the blaze so quickly have made containment efforts perilous and unpredictable.
As Malibu grapples with yet another wildfire crisis, residents and authorities alike face the grim reality of living in a region increasingly vulnerable to natural disasters. For those at Pepperdine, the past few days will remain etched in memory—a stark reminder of nature’s power and the resilience needed to endure.