Yes, a wind-driven brush fire known as the Bryson Fire broke out in the hills north of Malibu on Thursday, October 15, 2026, which is why so many residents, commuters and visitors are asking whether there is a fire in Malibu right now. The blaze ignited in the late afternoon near Encinal Canyon Road and Mulholland Highway, grew quickly under strong Santa Ana winds, and prompted evacuation warnings across part of the western Santa Monica Mountains. Here is a clear, up-to-date look at what has been confirmed, what remains unknown, and what people in the area should keep in mind.
Is There a Fire in Malibu Right Now?
Based on the most recent reports available, the answer is yes. The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the Bryson Fire shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday, with the first call coming in around 4:40 to 4:45 p.m. The fire was reported in the 400 block of Encinal Canyon Road, near Mulholland Highway, in the hills north of the city of Malibu itself.
The fire moved fast. Early reports described it growing from roughly one acre to about five acres in around 15 minutes, then to an estimated 20 acres within half an hour. Within about an hour, the incident was estimated at roughly 35 acres, with spot fires breaking out ahead of the main flame front as the wind pushed embers forward. Some early tracking pages showed lower acreage figures at different moments, which is normal in a fast-moving fire where estimates are revised repeatedly as crews and aircraft get a better view.
The most recent verified reports date to Thursday evening. At the time of writing, there is no official confirmation of the fire’s final size, its containment percentage, or its cause.
What We Know About the Bryson Fire
A handful of details have been consistently reported by fire officials and local authorities:
- The fire started near the Camp Kilpatrick juvenile detention facility area on Encinal Canyon Road, in rugged terrain north of Pacific Coast Highway.
- It was burning in medium to heavy brush and moving south during its early run.
- Incident commanders upgraded the response to a second alarm, bringing in additional crews.
- Around 115 personnel were reported at the scene early on, with more on the way.
- Water-dropping helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were sent to the fire, including help from federal firefighting aircraft.
- Early reports said no structures were immediately threatened and no injuries had been reported.
Those points reflect the early hours of the fire. Conditions can change quickly in this terrain, so anyone who needs current information should rely on live updates from official channels rather than on a single article.
Evacuation Warnings and Road Impacts
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued evacuation warnings at around 5:30 p.m. for a community just off Mulholland Highway. According to the Watch Duty app, the warning area was described as stretching from the Los Angeles County line in the north toward Point Dume in the south, although residents should always check the official map for the exact boundaries.
It is important to understand the difference between a warning and an order. An evacuation warning means there is a potential threat to life or property and that people should be ready to leave, especially those who need extra time, such as families with children, older adults, and people with pets or livestock. An evacuation order is an immediate threat to life and means leaving right away. Based on the reports available, the Bryson Fire prompted warnings rather than mandatory orders, but there is no official confirmation on whether any warnings have since been expanded, reduced or lifted.
Aerial footage from Thursday evening showed Mulholland Highway apparently closed in the area as crews worked, and fire officials also requested road closures. Drivers should expect possible closures and delays near Encinal Canyon Road and Mulholland Highway, and should follow signs and instructions from law enforcement. City officials also urged residents to charge phones, keep vehicles fueled, gather emergency supplies and review evacuation routes.
Why Fire Danger Is So High in Malibu Right Now
The fire did not start in a vacuum. The National Weather Service has had a Red Flag Warning in place for Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains, and the City of Malibu announced that the warning was extended to run through 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 17. A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions are occurring or about to occur, with the combination of gusty winds, low humidity and warm temperatures allowing any new fire to spread very rapidly.
When the Bryson Fire ignited, a weather reading in the Malibu Hills showed Santa Ana winds of about 26 mph from the north-northeast, a temperature of around 84 degrees and relative humidity near 13 percent. Forecasters had warned earlier in the week of mountain gusts up to 70 mph and a high risk of extreme fire behavior with any new fire start. Santa Ana winds are dry, offshore winds that typically arrive in the fall and can push flames downhill and toward the coast, which is part of why even a small ignition in these canyons draws such a large response.
Power Shutoffs Across Malibu
Fire weather has also affected electricity. Southern California Edison warned the City of Malibu that it might proactively cut power to several circuits serving central and western Malibu, including the Cuthbert, Galahad, Maguire and Merlin circuits, beginning Thursday. These Public Safety Power Shutoffs are designed to reduce the chance that electrical equipment could spark a wildfire in extreme wind. Reports on Thursday indicated that power had already been shut off to parts of central and western Malibu as a precaution.
Residents were advised to prepare for extended outages, possible disruptions to cell service and malfunctioning traffic signals. Drivers should treat any dark traffic light as a four-way stop. Anyone who wants to know whether their home or business is affected should check the utility’s outage status directly.
Why Malibu Is So Vulnerable to Wildfire
For people wondering whether there is a fire in Malibu again, the history of the area explains why each new report draws serious attention. Malibu sits along a narrow coastal strip backed by steep, brush-filled canyons, and it has been hit repeatedly by major fires. The 2018 Woolsey Fire burned nearly 97,000 acres, destroyed more than 1,500 structures and was responsible for three deaths. More recently, the Franklin Fire in December 2024 burned more than 4,000 acres near Pepperdine University, forced thousands of people to evacuate and destroyed nine single-family homes and 10 outbuildings.
One report on the Bryson Fire noted that the last major blaze to sweep through the western canyons was the Woolsey Fire, which means vegetation in many of those canyons has had roughly eight years to regrow. Dense, dry brush gives wind-driven fires more fuel, which is one reason officials respond so aggressively to even small starts during Red Flag conditions.
What Is Still Unconfirmed
Because this is a developing situation, it is just as important to say what is not yet known. As of the latest verified reports:
- The cause of the Bryson Fire has not been determined and remains under investigation.
- There is no official confirmation of the fire’s final acreage or containment percentage.
- There is no confirmation of any structures damaged or destroyed, and early reports said none were immediately threatened.
- There is no confirmation of the current status of evacuation warnings, including whether they have been lifted.
Readers should also be careful not to confuse this incident with an unrelated Bryson Fire that burned about 16 acres in Monterey County in August 2026 and was fully contained days later. That fire is a separate event in a different part of California. Some low-quality websites have also circulated dramatic claims about huge numbers of affected residents and thousands of burned acres in Malibu. Those figures do not match the reports from fire officials and established local news outlets about the Bryson Fire, so they should be treated with caution.
Safety Tips for Residents and Visitors
Whether or not the Bryson Fire grows, the Red Flag conditions mean everyone in and around Malibu should stay alert through the weekend. A few practical steps can make a real difference:
- Check your evacuation zone in advance using the official evacuation map and know at least two ways out of your neighborhood.
- Keep your phone charged, your vehicle fueled, and important documents, medications and pet supplies easy to grab.
- Sign up for local emergency alerts and follow the City of Malibu and the Los Angeles County Fire Department for verified updates.
- Avoid anything that can spark a fire, including outdoor burning, parking on dry grass, dragging trailer chains and discarding cigarettes.
- Report smoke or flames immediately by calling 911.
- If you are a visitor, expect road closures, limited cell service and possible power outages, and be ready to adjust travel plans.
Final Thoughts
So, is there a fire in Malibu? Yes. The Bryson Fire ignited on Thursday, October 15, 2026, grew to an estimated 35 acres within about an hour, and triggered evacuation warnings and a large aerial and ground response, all while a Red Flag Warning remains in effect through Saturday night. The early reports were somewhat reassuring, with no injuries and no structures immediately threatened, but critical fire weather means the situation can change quickly. Until fire officials publish confirmed figures on acreage, containment and cause, the safest approach is to rely on official sources, follow any instructions from emergency personnel, and stay prepared.
Have you been affected by the Malibu fire or have local updates to share? Leave a comment below and check back for the latest developments.