CNN
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A fire near Southern California’s downtown Malibu is spreading quickly, prompting mandatory evacuations and threatening structures including the city’s famous Malibu Pier. Nearby Pepperdine University canceled classes Tuesday as students shelter in place at the school’s Malibu campus.

The inferno has already grown to more than 1,600 acres — and nearly tripled in size in an hour, CALFire said.

“Units are on the ground and in the air battling a brush fire in Malibu. Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect east of Malibu Canyon Road and south of Piuma Road and in the Serra Retreat area,” the Los Angeles County Fire Department posted on social media.

Pepperdine is asking students to shelter in place in the campus library and student center, and the school canceled classes and final exams on Tuesday. Videos taken on campus overnight show people walking across the grounds, the darkness lit by an orange glow as red flames burn in the distance.

Fire engines are stationed on campus, where the worst of the fire is over, but there are still isolated fires, the university said.

“All community members on the Malibu campus are directed to seek shelter at the Tyler Campus Center or Payson Library. Despite any evacuation orders from the City of Malibu or surrounding areas, the university community should follow the university’s instructions,” the university said, noting that its plan was approved by the fire department.

The library and student center are “well protected against any type of bushfire threat,” Pepperdine public information officer Michael Friel told KTLA.

The National Weather Service has reported sustained gusts exceeding 50 mph in the Franklin Fire area. The air in the area is very dry, with relative humidity currently only 8%. A high wind advisory is in effect for the area through Tuesday afternoon, with gusts up to 70 miles per hour. Wind gusts are expected to drop below 50 mph through the afternoon, but the air will remain dry Tuesday and Wednesday.

Dry air, gusty winds and dry vegetation create conditions that cause new fires to quickly spread out of control, potentially endangering life and property.

Fire officials told CNN affiliate KCAL/KCBS that no structures had been damaged yet, but some were threatened.

The city of Malibu announced it had activated its emergency operations centers, saying the fire was spreading at a “rapid rate.”