Malibu wildfire threatens Pepperdine

BY CHRIS SEGAL
Director of Strategic Planning

A fire started in the hills about 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.

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

Emergency notifications through the Universities new system are being sent to students, faculty and staff advising “Malibu campus residents to remain in their residence halls. Faculty and staff residents of the Malibu campus should 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.