Evacuation orders have been issued in Malibu after the Bryson Fire spread across 200 acres, driven by dry conditions and strong Santa Ana winds.
The wildfire began near Encinal Canyon Road and Mulholland Highway on Thursday afternoon and expanded rapidly through the Malibu hills, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department and CAL FIRE.
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for parts of the area, while warnings covered a wider zone stretching towards Leo Carrillo State Park, Pepperdine University and the coast. Several roads, including Decker Road and Encinal Canyon Road, were closed as crews tackled the blaze in difficult terrain.
An evacuation shelter was opened at Agoura High School, with a separate facility at the Agoura Animal Care Centre for pets and livestock.
Camp Kilpatrick, a juvenile detention facility near the fire, was evacuated. Los Angeles County officials said 38 young people were transferred to Barry J Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, where staff continued to provide support.
Pepperdine University said the fire was about eight miles north-west of its Malibu campus and did not pose an immediate threat to the site. It said winds were pushing the fire south-west, away from the university.
The Ventura County Fire Department sent a strike team to assist Los Angeles County crews. Southern California Edison also initiated a public safety power shut-off affecting more than 60,000 residents in the region.
A Red Flag Warning remained in force across Southern California, with the National Weather Service warning that a moderate-to-strong Santa Ana wind event could keep fire conditions critical through Saturday.
The cause of the Bryson Fire was under investigation.
