The Bryson Fire ignited in western Malibu shortly before 5 p.m. and spread quickly, growing from one to five acres in about 15 minutes before reaching about 20 acres within 30 minutes.
Water-dropping helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were sent in as Santa Ana winds pushed flames forward at about 26 mph out of the NNE. At 4:56 p.m., the temperature was 84 degrees and relative humidity was 13%.
Mullholland Highway and Encinal Canyon Road
The fire was first reported near the intersection of Mullholland Highway and Encinal Canyon Road, with the ignition point appearing just north of Encinal in between the former Malibu Golf Club and Saddle Rock Ranch. TV reports said the blaze started right next to the Camp Kilpatrick juvenile detention center.
The area around the Bryson Fire is sparsely populated, with private estates set atop hills or within canyons, but evacuation warnings still extended from the L.A. County line toward Point Dume. That put residents and properties in a wide stretch of western Malibu under warning even as the flames moved through terrain that can slow crews on the ground.
Malibu Hills
Various spot fires erupted as winds pushed the flames forward through the Malibu Hills. The fire’s rapid spread left little margin for nearby residents and properties while aircraft worked overhead to slow its advance.
What sparked the Bryson Fire was not stated. For anyone near western Malibu, the immediate step was to stay clear of the warning area and follow evacuation instructions if conditions changed.
