MALIBU, California – In the early hours of the morning, a wildfire alert shocked many college students at Pepperdine University, some of whom were studying for finals while others were fast asleep in their dormitories. Instead of fleeing from the approaching danger, around 3,000 students made their way to two main buildings located centrally on the 830-acre (336 hectare) campus in coastal Malibu to take shelter.
This decision to shelter in place may appear counterintuitive to those familiar with evacuation scenes often seen across wildfire-prone areas of California, where residents are typically seen fleeing in lengthy vehicle convoys. However, this Christian university has established specific procedures tailored to its unique landscape and architectural design to protect its students. According to Michael Friel, a spokesperson for Pepperdine, the established protocol directs students towards a library and a campus center where they can access food, water, and other essential services during emergencies.
The university formally introduced these emergency procedures to students and local residents at the start of the academic year during orientation. When the Franklin Fire ignited on Monday night, officials began informing students around 11 p.m. and activated the shelter-in-place plan roughly two hours later via text messages, emails, social media updates, and direct door-to-door communication. “Many students were awakened by knocks at their doors, and we ensured they understood the situation and got them to safety,” Friel explained.
The Franklin Fire aggressively spread southward, leaping over the renowned Pacific Coast Highway and advancing to the coast, where upscale homes line the beachfront. By Tuesday, thousands of residents across Southern California found themselves under urgent evacuation orders and warnings, as more than 8,100 homes and various structures were threatened by the advancing flames. County fire officials reported that over 3.5 square miles (9 square kilometers) of trees and dry brush had succumbed to the fire amidst dangerous conditions exacerbated by dry and gusty Santa Ana winds expected to persist into Wednesday. The cause of the wildfire remains unclear.
Twenty-year-old Ryan Song, a resident assistant at the university, recounted how the power went out in his dormitory late Monday night. Peering out of the window, he was struck by a large pinkish glow that escalated quickly. “I thought to myself, ‘This light is too intense,’ and it continued to expand,” said Song, who is currently a junior. “I immediately ran outside and realized it was indeed a sizable fire.” He and other resident assistants quickly went room-to-room ensuring that fellow students evacuated effectively. While the majority remained calm and followed directions, some students expressed fear and hastily sought to leave the campus grounds.
In the following hours, Song diligently moved back and forth in the darkness between his dormitory and the main campus to guarantee that no one was left behind. Officials at Pepperdine noted that the university’s infrastructure, designed in the 1960s with a focus on fire safety, features buildings that are closely arranged and constructed with stucco, while the roadways ensure easy access for firefighting crews, as explained by Phil Phillips, the university’s executive vice president.
In the 1990s, the campus engaged with Los Angeles County fire authorities to develop a comprehensive safety strategy, which later indicated that keeping students on campus would be the safest course of action. The school is also proactive about clearing brush and has specific measures in place to minimize smoke in shelter-in-place locations, including using air filters and sealing doors. Phillips highlighted that during emergencies, the adjacent Pacific Coast Highway could become heavily congested, similar to the traffic during the devastating Woolsey Fire in 2018.
“Our priority is ensuring that our students are protected; it is our moral obligation, and we take it very seriously,” Phillips stressed, recalling his three decades affiliation with the campus, including experiences of surviving seven fires. By Tuesday, heavy smoke from the Franklin Fire loomed over the university located 29 miles (47 kilometers) west of Los Angeles. Consequently, classes were canceled, and final exams were postponed as firefighters had yet to gain control over the blaze by Tuesday afternoon.
Fortunately, while the campus was charred in some areas, no injuries were reported, and only one building appeared to suffer minor damage thanks to the diligent efforts of firefighters and the cooperation of students and faculty. College President Jim Gash announced that by Tuesday afternoon, the campus was no longer under threat. “I am immensely thankful that through prayer, preparation, and teamwork, our Pepperdine community managed to overcome the challenges faced over the past twelve hours,” Gash stated. “We continue to keep the Malibu community in our thoughts and prayers.”
