All evacuation orders and warnings tied to the Bryson Fire in the Santa Monica Mountains have been lifted, and four Malibu schools reopen Monday after crews held the 146-acre blaze without the loss of a single structure, officials said.
Two evacuation zones were downgraded to advisories, according to Los Angeles County, meaning residents there should remain alert and be ready to leave if conditions change. Firefighters continued working across the fire’s footprint to extinguish hot spots and bring the blaze to full containment.
The fire started at about 4:41 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, near Encinal Canyon Road, and fire personnel suffered only minor injuries, county officials said. More than 414 emergency personnel were assigned to the fire at the height of the response.
The National Weather Service’s red flag warning expired over the weekend. because of improved conditions, signaling a lower immediate fire risk, according to the county.
All roads closed because of the fire, including Topanga Canyon Boulevard, have reopened to the public. Planned power outages have been canceled, and utilities are working to restore electricity to sites that were shut off to reduce the risk of fire. Residents can monitor road closures countywide at pw.lacounty.gov/roadclosures.
Several emergency services set up during the fire have wound down. The evacuation shelter at Agoura High School, which served Malibu residents, has closed, as has the large animal shelter at Pierce College. The Agoura Animal Care Center has returned to regular hours.
The Los Angeles County Probation Department determined it is safe for 38 female and gender-expansive youth who had been temporarily relocated to Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall to return to Campus Vernon Kilpatrick. Staff members are coordinating the return, and the department said it will notify parents and stakeholders once the move is complete.
Schools reopen
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District is reopening Malibu High, Malibu Middle, Malibu Elementary and Webster Elementary schools Monday, Oct. 19, with school buses running their regular routes.
The district closed the four campuses Friday, Oct. 16, out of what it called an abundance of caution. Malibu High, Malibu Middle and Malibu Elementary were under an evacuation warning at the time. The district offered continuity of learning resources to students and said there would be no negative academic impact on those unable to access them.
In announcing the reopening, the district said Malibu is no longer under a red flag warning or within an evacuation zone and that power has been restored. The decision followed continued monitoring of the fire and communication with the city of Malibu’s Emergency Operations Center.
“Our thoughts are with everyone in the Malibu community during this time,” Thomas Piland, the district’s chief communications officer, wrote in a message to media and community partners. “The safety and well-being of our students, families and staff remain our top priority.”
Wind-driven start
The Bryson Fire was one of several brush fires fueled by Santa Ana winds that swept Southern California on Thursday, prompting utilities to cut power to tens of thousands of customers statewide.
The fast-moving Malibu blaze triggered evacuation orders and warnings across a large area of the Santa Monica Mountains, including Zuma and Trancas canyons and areas south and west of the fire. It grew to more than 100 acres and threatened a county juvenile detention and rehabilitation facility, and the weather service warned that overnight gusts could intensify fire activity.
Crews also fought a fire in Azusa, where forward progress was stopped after more than 40 acres burned, and another at Camp Pendleton that grew to more than 1.5 square miles and briefly closed part of Interstate 5.
Staying prepared
County officials urge residents to register for emergency alerts through Alert LA County and their city’s notification system, and to look up their evacuation zone at protect.genasys.com or in the Genasys mobile app. Preparedness information is available at ready.lacounty.gov and through the Fire Department’s Ready! Set! Go! program.
Residents can call 211 for preparedness resources and referrals, including information for people with disabilities and other access and functional needs. For an immediate threat to life or safety, call 911.