A cross with a view Pepperdine University miraculously weathered a wildfire that came dangerously close to the Malibu, California, campus and forced students to take shelter earlier this week.
A video shared by the campus on Wednesday shows an observable walkway leading to the intact cross, surrounded by scorched dirt and vegetation.
The school shared an unattributed quote from someone who said they became “teary-eyed” and “thankful to God” as they got closer to the cross.
The cross is at the top a walking path which extends three miles into the Santa Monica Mountains.
MALIBU WILDFIRE Forces celebrities to flee luxury homes as destruction spreads
A cross atop the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. (Pepperdine University)
The original cross burned down during the 2018 Woolsey Fire. The current 20-foot cross was placed there by brothers of the Sigma Chi fraternity, the school said in a blog post.
In the meantime, firefighters continue to battle the blaze – also called the Franklin Fire – which was only 20% contained on Thursday.
The Franklin Fire rages through the posh city of Malibu. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The flames were fueled by strong winds that swept through the region early this week, making it difficult for firefighters to control the flames.
FIREFIGHTERS STRIVE TO CONTROL FAST-MOVING WILDFIRE IN MALIBU, AND READ EVACUATION ORDERS
The weather improved so much Wednesday that meteorologists canceled all red flag warnings, which indicate high fire danger, and crews were able to successfully push back against the flames.
The city, which is located about 72 kilometers north Los Angeles, is known for its rugged canyons, beautiful cliffs and celebrity seaside mansions.
The Franklin Fire prompted a shelter-in-place order at Pepperdine University in Malibu as flames engulfed the campus. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
More than 3,700 Malibu residents were allowed to return to their homes, but another 1,600 people with homes in the city remained under evacuation orders. A
All told, about 20,000 residents in the city and neighboring areas have been affected by mandatory evacuation orders and warnings since the fire broke out late Monday.
The Franklin Fire rages through Malibu. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The evacuation orders affected many celebrities living in the city, including Cher, Jane Seymour and Dick Van Dyke, among others.
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Early analysis shows little to no damage to structures at Pepperdine University. Final exams were postponed or canceled, and faculty members were determining how best to complete the semester, which ends this week.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
