Firefighters are battling a large wildfire in Malibu that has forced thousands of residents to evacuate their homes.

The wind-fanned Franklin Fire broke out on Monday evening, and within hours had rapidly burned through more than 1,800 acres in the coastal city, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Many celebrities and Hollywood executives own multi-million dollar homes on the coastline, one of the most desirable areas in Southern California.

Pepperdine University said it had cancelled classes and final exams for Tuesday as emergency personnel rushed to contain the blaze.