A wildfire spread quickly through Malibu early Tuesday morning, prompting evacuations along the coast and orders to shelter-in-place at Pepperdine University.

Los Angeles County firefighters responded to a brushfire call at 10:50 p.m. Monday before strong Santa Ana winds quickly escalated the fire’s severity. The fire launched across the Pacific Coast Highway near the Malibu Pier at about 3 a.m. Tuesday as hundreds of firefighters struggled to contain the fire amid 50-80 mph winds.