Fire on Pepperdine campus

BY CHRIS SEGAL
Director of Strategic Planning

“No structures have burned down, the fire went up to the TAC but did not touch it,” said University President Andrew K. Benton to students in the Cafe. “Everyone is being served food at once and everyone is being allowed 45 minutes to go back to their dorms to get some belongings and books.”

Classes are expected to be held tomorrow and there will be a prayer service at 11 a.m, said Benton.

Fire officials predict the fire may burn until Tuesday.

A fire started in the hills around Malibu just a few miles from Pepperdine’s Malibu campus early this morning. Around 7 a.m. students on campus were evacuated to the Tyler Campus Center and the Cafe.

Three cars are engulfed in flames in the Chapel parking lot, said students.

There is spot fire burning next to the TAC. Students have been evacuated from residential halls and asked to move to the Gym and the TCC, said Assistant Public Relations Director Wileen Wong in a statement.

“They have been telling us a good amount, but honestly I’ve been getting more from people getting text messages,” said sophomore John McEwen from the Café.

Malibu Presbyterian is fully engulfed in fire, according to fire officials.

The fire on campus will burn itself out, said Benton in an address to the students in the Cafe. Students have been given masks and are being told to remain in the Cafe and TCC.

Students in the Cafe are being served free food but no food has been sent to the Gym at this point.

Malibu residents reported that the palm trees in Ralphs shopping center are on fire.

Every table in the Cafe is full of students and more than 200 people are walking around, said Graphic News Editor Jane Lee.

A second emergency notifications through the Universities new system is being sent to students, faculty and staff advising “relocate to the Tyler Campus Center.”

Some students are walking into the Cafe crying and others got in their cars and left campus when the Resident Advisors came through the dorms, Lee said.

The fire is burning brush and structures a few miles north of Pepperdine, according to fire officials. There are high wind advisories with gusts of wind up to 80 mph. Malibu Canyon and Topanga Canyon roads are closed as well as Pacific Coast Higway from Kanan Dume Road to Topanga Canyon Road.

Heavy smoke can be seen from the Cafe and Public Safety officers are posted at various locations around the TCC. Students do not have access to televisions or the radio to listen to or watch the fire.

Malibu residents can evacuate to Zuma beach.

Updated at 10:11 a.m.