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California Wildfire Spreads Across 20,000 Acres, Prompting Evacuations California Wildfire Spreads Across 20,000 Acres, Prompting Evacuations
(1 day later)
More than 900 firefighters were combating a wildfire across 20,000 acres in the mountains north of Los Angeles and near Big Sur on California’s coast on Saturday night, prompting the authorities to order evacuations and close roads, the United States Forest Service said on Twitter. More than 900 firefighters were combating a wildfire across 20,000 acres in the mountains north of Los Angeles on Saturday night, prompting the authorities to order evacuations and close roads, the United States Forest Service said on Twitter.
The evacuations encompassed about 1,500 homes, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. One structure was reported destroyed and 100 commercial buildings were threatened. Ten percent of the fire had been contained, the Forest Service said Saturday night.The evacuations encompassed about 1,500 homes, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. One structure was reported destroyed and 100 commercial buildings were threatened. Ten percent of the fire had been contained, the Forest Service said Saturday night.
No information on injuries was immediately available.No information on injuries was immediately available.
Firefighters contended with triple-digit temperatures and winds of up to 26 miles per hour on Saturday. The weather was not expected to improve on Sunday, with hot, dry conditions and wind gusts forecast.Firefighters contended with triple-digit temperatures and winds of up to 26 miles per hour on Saturday. The weather was not expected to improve on Sunday, with hot, dry conditions and wind gusts forecast.
Images posted on Twitter showed the sky tinted orange and pink, as flames and smoke dominated the landscape.Images posted on Twitter showed the sky tinted orange and pink, as flames and smoke dominated the landscape.
The fire started on Friday afternoon in the Sand Canyon area of suburban Santa Clarita.The fire started on Friday afternoon in the Sand Canyon area of suburban Santa Clarita.
John Tripp, the Los Angeles County deputy fire chief, said the fire was threatening 1,000 homes but added, “If we were to get very extreme fire behavior, we’re up to 45,000 homes,” The Associated Press reported.John Tripp, the Los Angeles County deputy fire chief, said the fire was threatening 1,000 homes but added, “If we were to get very extreme fire behavior, we’re up to 45,000 homes,” The Associated Press reported.
The firefighters were helped by 36 helicopters and airplanes that dropped water or retardant.The firefighters were helped by 36 helicopters and airplanes that dropped water or retardant.
About 400 animals were evacuated from the Wildlife Waystation, a sanctuary for exotic creatures that is within the Angeles National Forest. A Bengal tiger was sedated and trucked away, the A.P. reported.About 400 animals were evacuated from the Wildlife Waystation, a sanctuary for exotic creatures that is within the Angeles National Forest. A Bengal tiger was sedated and trucked away, the A.P. reported.
“We’ve got big cats, tigers, bears, we’ve got hyenas, we’ve got chimps,” the sanctuary’s executive director, Susan Hartland, told KABC-TV.“We’ve got big cats, tigers, bears, we’ve got hyenas, we’ve got chimps,” the sanctuary’s executive director, Susan Hartland, told KABC-TV.
Late on Saturday night, the sanctuary said on Facebook that it had been spared.Late on Saturday night, the sanctuary said on Facebook that it had been spared.
“The firefighters worked their butts off to contain the fires burning around the facility!” the sanctuary said. “That, with the change in the wind direction, gave them a leg up on containment! There are a few animals that are still coming out, but they have ceased evacuation of the rest of the animals, as they have been deemed SAFE!!”“The firefighters worked their butts off to contain the fires burning around the facility!” the sanctuary said. “That, with the change in the wind direction, gave them a leg up on containment! There are a few animals that are still coming out, but they have ceased evacuation of the rest of the animals, as they have been deemed SAFE!!”
By evening, people living in the Carmel Highlands north of the fire were told to be ready to leave immediately if an evacuation was ordered. A separate fire burning in the Big Sur area of Monterey County led officials to issue an evacuation warning on Saturday for people living in the Carmel Highlands community.
Jerri Masten-Hansen said she and her husband had watched the fire approach. “We felt threatened this morning and decided we needed to go,” Ms. Masten-Hansen told KSBW-TV.Jerri Masten-Hansen said she and her husband had watched the fire approach. “We felt threatened this morning and decided we needed to go,” Ms. Masten-Hansen told KSBW-TV.
Her sister, Ellen Masten, also left her home. “I grabbed all the pictures of the kids, and then I took the paintings of my parents that had been done by a local artist,” she told the station.Her sister, Ellen Masten, also left her home. “I grabbed all the pictures of the kids, and then I took the paintings of my parents that had been done by a local artist,” she told the station.