City officials say residents should be prepared for potential evacuations, power outages, and hazardous roads.

A wind-whipped wildfire tore through parched brush in the coastal city of Malibu near Pepperdine University on Wednesday morning, closing a section of the Pacific Coast Highway, officials said. The Broad Fire ignited southwest of the Pacific Coast Highway and South Malibu Canyon Road,

The Santa Ana winds raging in Southern California are hitting hurricane speeds in some areas, prompting weather officials to describe the fire conditions as “EXTREME.” In fact, the National Weather Service described the winds and low humidity,