Santa Clarita, Sand Brush Fire 2016 [MAP] - News, Damage and Updates: 2,500 Acres Burned Near Los Angeles, 100 Evacuated and Metrolink Tracks Closed For 4 Hours
Fire Started Near Antelope Valley Freeway
A large brush fire started at the northbound side of the Antelope Valley Freeway in Santa Clarita, California, Friday.
Fast and strong winds made the fire bigger and in just a matter of hours had covered thousands of acres and even doubling its size.
Firefighters immediately responded to contain the blaze from the ground. Aerial firefighters also took action. Fire-fighting helicopters were used from the Los Angeles Fire Department and from the county fire department. Cal Fire and fire fighters from the US Forest Service also arrived to help.
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No casualties reported
Residents reported the blaze at 2:11 p.m. near Sand Canyon Road and at around 8 p.m. was able to eat about 2,500 acres with zero containment. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Evacuations started
Country fire officials also said that less than 100 people were evacuated from Capra Road off Soledad Canyon Road. Mandatory evacuations were also done at Little Tujunga from Bear Divide to Gold Creek while voluntary evacuations at Gold Creek to bottom of Camp 16.
Evacuation centers were set up at the Golden Valley High School at 27051 Robert C. Lee Parkway in Santa Clarita. There were also shelters for large animals at the Agua Dulce Airport, Wayside Jail in Castaic and at the Pierce College located in Woodland Hills.
Road closed and Metrolink service stopped
The area near the blaze quickly became too dangerous for residents and commuters with temperatures rising by the triple-digits. Gusty winds fueled the fire and made it move eastward into the Angeles National Forest. The California Highway Patrol had no other choice but to close south of Soledad Canyon Road. Metrolink services were stopped on the Antelope Valley line at the Via Princessa Station. It remain closed for four hours.
Smoke seen above downtown Los Angeles
Residents reported that smoke was visible above downtown L.A. Smoke moved southeast into San Gabriel Valley as a result of strong northwest winds during that time. National Weather Service released a Red Flag Warning to take effect until midnight PDT Saturday night across Los Angeles, Antelope Valley, Ventura County Mountains and Santa Clarita Valley. The agency reports humidity at 2 to 7 percent, winds from 15 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph in the afternoon, maximum temperatures from 104 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
