The key facts

  • The Bryson Fire near Malibu grew to ~200 acres; evacuations in Encinal Canyon, warnings for areas near Pepperdine and the coast
  • Camp Kilpatrick evacuated 38 teenagers; Southern California Edison cut power to more than 60,000 residents, and per DW, 127,000 customers statewide
  • Red Flag Warning due to Santa Ana winds through Saturday; separate fires in Azusa and at the Camp Pendleton base

Bryson Fire Near Malibu

The Bryson Fire broke out Thursday at around 5:00 p.m. local time in the Encinal Canyon area north of Malibu, near the Camp Kilpatrick juvenile facility. According to CBS News, as cited by Anadolu, by evening the fire had covered about 200 acres (809 decares); Deutsche Welle estimates the area at approximately 81 hectares. A column of dark smoke rose over the hills, visible from many kilometers away.

Evacuations and Authorities' Measures

Los Angeles County authorities issued evacuation orders and warnings for areas extending toward Leo Carrillo State Park, Pepperdine University, and the Pacific coast. Residents have been ordered to leave the Encinal Canyon area; adjacent parts of the Santa Monica Mountains are under warnings. County officials urged residents to follow emergency instructions and, if safe, check on neighbors who may need help: 'If you feel threatened by a nearby fire... do not wait for an official notification to leave.' Pepperdine University reported that the fire is burning approximately eight miles northwest of its Malibu campus, and the wind is blowing southwest, away from the university: 'The fire currently poses no threat to the Pepperdine Malibu campus,' the university said in a post on X. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said city officials are closely monitoring the situation, although the fire remains outside the city. According to her, the Los Angeles Fire Department 'is prepared to respond to any fire threat that may arise,' and resources are positioned in several areas, including the San Fernando Valley, the Santa Monica Mountains, and West Los Angeles.

Camp Kilpatrick Evacuation

Thirty-eight teenagers were evacuated from the Camp Kilpatrick juvenile detention center and transferred to the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar. The Los Angeles County Probation Department noted: 'We understand that an evacuation can be stressful for the teens and their families,' adding that staff are providing support and that parents and legal guardians are being notified.

Power Shutoffs and Wind Warning

Southern California Edison began a preventive power shutoff (public safety power shutoff) affecting more than 60,000 residents — according to Anadolu. Deutsche Welle reports that utility companies across California cut electricity to approximately 127,000 customers to reduce the risk of ignitions from electrical equipment. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning due to an expected moderate to strong Santa Ana wind event, which could sustain critical fire danger through Saturday. Winds are forecast to strengthen overnight, which could intensify fires.

Other Fires and Context

In Azusa, north of Los Angeles, about 200 firefighters battled a blaze that had covered more than 16 hectares (40 acres); by midday the fire's spread had been stopped, and the evacuation order for the neighborhood at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains was downgraded to a warning. Farther south, at the Camp Pendleton military base near San Diego, a fire covered more than 3.8 square kilometers (1.5 square miles) and threatened buildings and infrastructure. The Bryson Fire is burning approximately 32 kilometers (20 miles) west of the area affected by the Palisades Fire in January 2025. The Palisades and Eaton fires claimed 31 lives in the Los Angeles area in January 2025; according to forecasters, the current winds are not expected to be as strong as during those disasters.