US: Malibu (California) ordered to evacuate as fire spreads November 9 /update 1

Event

Authorities have ordered residents in the city of Malibu (California) to evacuate as the so-called Woolsey Fire has spread rapidly on Friday, November 9. The blaze, which ignited on Thursday, November 8, has also prompted officials to issue evacuation orders for some 75,000 residences in Ventura and Los Angeles counties; as of 14:30 (local time) on Friday, both the Woolsey Fire and the smaller Hill Fire have burned over 8100 hectares (20,000 acres) in Ventura county. No casualties have been reported from the blazes.

The US-101 freeway was closed in both directions from Valley Circle Boulevard (Los Angeles) to Reyes Adobe Road (Agoura Hills) after the Woolsey Fire crossed the thoroughfare on Friday morning (local time). The northbound lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway have been closed from Topanga Canyon, and the southbound lanes at Leo Carrillo State Beach near the Los Angeles-Ventura counties border. Dozens of schools were closed Friday due to the fires. Additional evacuations, road closures, and school closures are to be expected in the affected areas over the coming days as the fires spread.

Context

Wildfires and brush fires are common in California from May through November.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to exercise caution when traveling in areas near the wildfire, adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities (e.g. road closures, evacuation notices), and closely monitor the situation. Children and those with respiratory illnesses are advised to limit outdoor activity.