Photos courtesy of Roxana Astemborski (Art Editor), Kelly Sayre, Thor Anderson, Sabrina Jones & Chris Segal (Director of Strategic Planning)
SHANNON KELLY
Editor In Chief
The Malibu Canyon fire that began early this morning continues to burn around campus. The Malibu fire is zero percent contained, according to fire officials. As of noon, more than a thousand acres have burned.
Buildings surrounding Pepperdine University have burned, but no campus structures are threatened at this time, confirmed Director of Public Relations Jerry Derloshon. At least ten fire response vehicles are on campus protecting structures and students from the Malibu fire, which is fueled by Santa Ana winds, he said.
All students on campus must remain in the Café and Firestone Fieldhouse and no students are being allowed off campus at this time, Derloshon said. The fire does not immediately threaten the University, but flames have burned structures directly outside of campus.
Students are watching news updates from video monitors in the Fieldhouse and Café. The students on campus will by updated by the University via text message and voicemail with the InstaCom Campus Alert system.
Malibu Crest, Sierra Retreat and the area surrounding Pepperdine have been evacuated.
More than one thousand acres have burned in Malibu, including many structures and homes in the areas surrounding Pepperdine. There have been no reported injuries.
Malibu Presbyterian Church, which is across the street from campus, has burned. Hodge Castle — less than two miles from campus — is also burning. An unconfirmed number of near-by residences have also burned, but officials say at least six homes, some on Old Malibu Road are engulfed.
Structures in the Malibu Colony Plaza, including Wachovia Bank and CVS Pharmacy began burning earlier this morning, but flames have since been put out by firefighters.
All roads surrounding campus have been shut down. Skycrane helicopters are descending at Pepperdine’s Alumni Park, using water from the ponds to drop in surrounding areas.
Updated at 12:21 p.m.
10-21-2007
