Firefighters battle Bryson Fire in Malibu as Santa Ana winds persist

Firefighters continued battling the Bryson Fire in Malibu, which had burned 102 acres by Thursday night, according to the Los Angeles Times. The fire started shortly before 5 p.m. and led to evacuation orders for the Encinal Canyon area near Trancas Canyon, with a larger portion of Malibu under evacuation warning.

Multiple aircraft and helicopters worked to contain the blaze until sunset as Southern California braced for another day of strong Santa Ana winds. The National Weather Service in Oxnard forecasted Friday to be the peak of the wind event, with speeds about 10 mph higher than Thursday.

L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents in fire-prone areas to take the conditions seriously and prepare immediately, noting that strong winds, low humidity, and warm temperatures can cause fires to spread rapidly, leaving little time to react.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said fire officials were pre-positioning personnel and resources in potential fire hotspots including the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica Mountains, and Hollywood. This came amid concerns about continued Santa Ana winds through Saturday, which have already driven brush fires in Malibu and Camp Pendleton.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is closely monitoring the Bryson Fire in Malibu. Previous reviews of the department's response to past firestorms highlighted the importance of pre-deploying resources to vulnerable areas, a measure now being taken seriously as conditions remain dangerous.