Driven by strong winds, a wildfire swept across open terrain in Malibu on Thursday, prompting the evacuation of the Vernon Kilpatrick Campus parole camp and the issuance of evacuation orders and warnings. The Bryson Fire broke out shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday near the campground on Encinal Canyon Road west of Mulholland Highway, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. A wildfire in Malibu has grown to 200 acres and prompted an evacuation order and warnings as Santa Ana winds remain in Southern California. Within 30 minutes, the fire was estimated at approximately 20 acres, and by early afternoon, it had grown to just over 200 acres. Incident commanders issued a second alarm and summoned additional crews to help extinguish the fire. Helicopters and fixed-wing planes dropping water and retardants were sent to the scene to help douse the flames, which were burning in largely inaccessible terrain. There were no reports of injuries and no immediate information on the cause of the fire. The fire broke out amid gusty Santa Ana winds that prompted red flag warnings of critical fire danger across much of the Southland. The warnings will be in effect at least until Saturday. The 38 female and gender-expansive youth from the Vernon Kilpatrick Campus were taken to the Barry J. Nidorf Youth Center in Sylmar, the Los Angeles County Probation Department announced. Evacuation warnings were issued for a large area stretching from near Malibu Road and Pacific Coast Highway to Leo Carrillo State Beach. An evacuation order was subsequently issued in the immediate area, including the Zuma and Trancas canyons. Malibu City Spokesman Matt Myerhoff confirmed to City News Service that a Red Cross emergency shelter was established at Agoura High School at 9 p.m. Myerhoff said a public safety power outage began around 3:30 p.m. Thursday in central and west Malibu due to previously predicted fire conditions. He noted that the city had been warned of a possible blackout several days before the power went out. “We urge residents to monitor emergency information on AM and FM radios, using portable radios and car radios, because they will work when the power goes out,” he said. Residents were advised to specifically tune into 99.1 FM KBUU, Malibu’s local radio station. Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
