A fast-spreading and dangerous wildfire burned parts of Malibu on Tuesday, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people near the coast and forcing a shelter-in-place order at Pepperdine University.

Fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, the fire threatened several buildings in and around Malibu, but the extent of the damage was not immediately clear Tuesday morning.

The Franklin Fire was measured at more than 1,800 acres as of Tuesday morning, according to Cal Fire. According to the LA Times, more than half of Malibu’s approximately 11,000 residents were under evacuation orders. The cause of the fire was under investigation and was 0% contained as of Tuesday morning. The Times reported that some residents barely had time to flee their homes in the early hours of the morning as flames closed in on them.

Just after 3 a.m., Malibu city officials said on social media that the fire had spread across the Pacific Coast Highway and “into the Malibu Pier area.” The Malibu Pier and other structures are affected.” All schools would be closed Tuesday until further notice due to the fire, Malibu officials said.

Pepperdine University in Malibu announced around 1 a.m. that it had activated its protective protocol on social media and asked students and university staff to meet at a campus center and library. Shortly before 5 a.m., the university said an unspecified number of people were still sheltering at the Tyler Campus Center and Payson Library. Power was out across much of the university’s Malibu campus, “and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future,” the university said.

National Weather Service officials in Southern California warned that “critical fire weather conditions” are expected to continue through Wednesday as strong Santa Ana winds continue to occur in the fire area.

Reach Dominic Fracassa: [email protected]