Bryson Fire evacuations remain in effect in western Malibu after a fast-moving brush fire broke out in the Santa Monica Mountains on Thursday, October 15, and burned about 146 acres. By 7 p.m. Pacific time on Friday, October 16, the fire was about 39 percent contained, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. No deaths have been reported, and one firefighter was injured.
How the fire started and grew
The fire began just before 5 p.m. on Thursday near Encinal Canyon Road, west of Mulholland Highway. Strong Santa Ana winds, the hot, dry gusts that blow from inland deserts toward the coast, spread it quickly. Within about an hour it had grown from a few acres to more than 35, and by 6:30 p.m. it had passed 100 acres, with spot fires starting ahead of the main blaze as embers were carried by the wind. A juvenile probation camp near the start of the fire was cleared.
Acreage has been reported differently since then. Early updates put the fire at 200 acres, and some national reports cited around 250. Fire officials later settled on about 146 to 147 acres as crews mapped the perimeter. The reports HCN reviewed did not explain the lower figure, so readers should treat all acreage numbers as estimates. Containment has risen steadily, from about 5 percent on Thursday night, to 17 percent on Friday morning, to 39 percent that evening. Officials have not announced a cause.
Bryson Fire evacuations: who has to leave
Evacuation orders, meaning residents must leave immediately, cover the Encinal Canyon, Trancas Canyon and Zuma Canyon areas near where Encinal Canyon Road meets Mulholland Highway. Evacuation warnings, meaning people should be ready to go, cover surrounding neighborhoods along Pacific Coast Highway, Point Dume and Zuma Beach. Zones can change quickly, so the best source is the live map on the CAL FIRE Bryson Fire page rather than screenshots shared online.
An evacuation shelter is open at Agoura High School, and an animal shelter is available at the Agoura Animal Care Center. Large animals can be taken to the Pierce College Equestrian Center in Woodland Hills. HCN could not find a published figure for how many people are using the shelters. The City of Malibu has advised that anyone who needs extra time, including people with pets or livestock, should consider leaving early, and that residents who feel unsafe should go without waiting for an official alert.
Homes at risk, but no losses reported
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said more than a hundred structures in the general area of the fire were threatened. More than 400 firefighters and over 75 ground and aerial resources were assigned. Crews worked in steep, hard-to-reach terrain and focused on defending buildings. As of Friday, officials had not reported any homes destroyed or damaged. One firefighter suffered minor injuries.
Winds and power cuts add pressure
The main concern now is the weather. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said a red flag warning, which signals very dry, windy conditions that raise fire risk, would stay in effect through 8 p.m. on Saturday, with gusts forecast at 40 to 65 mph. Officials warned that stronger winds could cause flare-ups along the fire’s edges.
Power outages have also affected the area. Utilities across California have switched off electricity in dry, windy conditions to reduce the risk of equipment starting new fires. In Malibu, the city has set up mobile cell towers to restore connectivity, worked with Caltrans to put generators on traffic signals along Pacific Coast Highway, and opened a community resource center at Bluffs Park with outage information, charging stations and basic supplies, working with Southern California Edison.
The Bryson Fire is one of several burning in Southern California this week. The much larger Norte Fire in Orange County forced about 16,000 people to evacuate on Friday, and a smaller fire near Azusa briefly prompted evacuation orders on Thursday.
What to watch next
The key questions are how much more of the fire’s edge can be secured before the winds peak again, whether any structures are damaged, and when evacuation orders are lifted. Residents who have left should wait for an official all-clear before returning, even if neighbors report that their street looks safe. HCN will update this report as official figures change. For more of our coverage, visit the Human Crisis News homepage.