Power Outages, No School, Roads Closed As Fire Weather Continues In Malibu

Crime & Safety

Power Outages, No School, Roads Closed As Fire Weather Continues In Malibu Dangerous fire conditions are continuing the day after a 50-acre fire in Malibu destroyed three buildings.

MALIBU, CA — As critical fire conditions continue Thursday and the city recovers from the Broad Fire , much of Malibu is without power, some traffic signals are out and school is canceled for the day.

Winds battered much of the region Wednesday, with the National Weather Service reporting peak gusts in the mountains reaching 75 to 85 mph, and 45 to 65 mph at lower elevations. The wind speeds tapered off as evening fell Wednesday, although gusts still reached up to 60 mph in the mountains.

The winds picked up speed again Thursday morning, although falling slightly short of Wednesday's levels. Humidity is expected to drop to 10 percent Thursday.

Winds are expected to die down by Friday, according to the NWSe. A Red Flag warning is in effect for the Malibu are until 6 p.m. Thursday and until 11 a.m. Friday for the Santa Monica Mountains.

Southern California Edison is implementing so-called Public Safety Power Shutoffs, where the utility cuts power to certain areas during fire-weather conditions to prevent its equipment from sparking flames.

Power was cut to more than 16,300 SCE customers as of Thursday Morning in Los Angeles County. Another 62,800 customers were being warned about possible power cuts.

That includes western Malibu.

The traffic signals at Malibu Canyon and Seaver drives, and at Pacific Coast Highway and Guernsey Avenue were not functioning as of 9:30 a.m. Officials have reminded motorists to complete stop at malfunctioning traffic signals.

City parks and offices are closed, as are Malibu schools. Public meetings are suspended. School officials expect to announce whether schools will be open Friday later on Thursday.

Pacific Coast Highway and canyon roads are open. Topanga Canyon Boulevard remains closed to non-residents from Mulholland Drive to PCH until Friday at 6 a.m.

County Sheriff Robert Luna said his agency was also "actively preparing for this significant weather event."

"We are fully equipped and ready to respond to any emergency incidents that may arise in our communities," Luna said. "We encourage residents in high-risk areas to be prepared for the unexpected and be ready to evacuate with essential items such as important medications, documents, and personal belongings."

Authorities urged residents to be prepared by ensuring cell phones and other devices are fully charged with their ringers audible in case of emergency alerts. Residents should also have working flashlights within reach, and prepare for the possibility of evacuations if fires do erupt.

City News Service contributed to this report.