AP Photo/Mike Meadows
A home just off Santa Susana Road is engulfed in flames from a brush fire that started on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 in the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles.
Posted on 09/28/2005 10:17:10 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Wind-driven brush fires scorched nearly 2,500 acres north of Los Angeles on Wednesday, killing thousands of chickens at a farm while destroying at least one home and threatening others.
A mandatory evacuation was ordered in Box Canyon and a freeway was closed as the blaze hopscotched the roadway and burned at the west end of the San Fernando Valley.
Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Ron Haralson said more than 700 firefighters were on the scene. One firefighter was struck on the head by a 40-pound boulder and was taken to a hospital for treatment, Capt. Carlos Calvillo said.
The fire had burned over 1,200 acres and was 5 percent contained by evening, Haralson said.
A blaze in Riverside County spread over 1,300 acres between the cities of Redlands and Moreno Valley, about 70 miles east of Los Angeles.
That fire destroyed three chicken coops at a ranch believed to have housed 70,000 to 90,000 chickens, said Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Cheri Patterson. Thousands of chickens died.
"It's a vast amount," Patterson said.
Nearly 400 firefighters battled the blaze, which was 10 percent contained, officials said.
The National Weather Service issued a high-wind warning for parts of southwest California.
A home just off Santa Susana Road is engulfed in flames from a brush fire that started on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 in the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles.
How long before the folks on CNN start complaining that FEMA personnel are not standing in the flames handing out donuts?
Santa Ana Winds Fan Brush Fires Around Southern California
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news&id=3487195
Firefighters battled dangerous brush fires in three counties Wednesday as Santa Ana winds blew through the mountains and canyons of Southern California.
Two fires erupted in the Chatsworth area on the northwestern edge of Los Angeles. Another blaze to the west in the Moorpark area of Ventura County burned near a college, hillside homes and a golf course, and a third wildfire broke out in Riverside County.
Some 120 firefighters and three helicopters battled a midafternoon blaze on both sides of the 118 Freeway in Chatsworth at the west end of the San Fernando Valley. The freeway is currently closed to traffic.
The fire grew to more than 100 acres, including spot fires spread by winds up to 25 mph.
Smoke wafted from the roof of a multistory home as firefighters arrived, followed by helicopters that dropped loads of water on it.
About 70 homes were threatened as the fire spread west toward the suburban community of Chatsworth Lake Manor, fire officials said. One firefighter was struck on the head by a rock and was taken to a hospital, said city Fire Capt. Milton Urquilla.
Hundreds of firefighters had also gone into action before dawn in Chatsworth, containing the day's first fire at 100 acres by 8 a.m. No injuries or damage were reported from that fire, which was under investigation.
The Riverside County blaze spread over 400 acres in San Timoteo Canyon between the cities of Calimesa and Moreno Valley, about 70 miles east of Los Angeles. Fifteen hillside structures were threatened.
The fire, which started near an abandoned chicken ranch, was headed west and had jumped Redlands Boulevard, said Patrick Chandler, spokesman for the Riverside County Fire Department. About 300 firefighters were battling the blaze.
There were no reports of any injuries.
In southeastern Ventura County, a midday blaze of unknown origin raced over 30 acres of brush in Moorpark. No structure losses or injuries were reported and the fire was fully contained shortly after 2 p.m., said Ventura County Fire Department spokeswoman Michele Faina.
The fire was initially near Moorpark College but moved away, Faina said.
The National Weather Service issued a high-wind warning for parts of southwest California through midafternoon, due to moderate surface high pressure over the Great Basin.
The NWS said very strong north to northeast winds from 40 mph to 50 mph with gusts to 75 mph would prevail over the mountains of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Wind advisories were also issued for areas to the east and south including San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and San Diego counties.
We'll be hearing from PETA soon.
Here's hoping they can knock these flames down and the winds die off.
Please, I want to ask for prayers of all of the fire fighters. Our son is one of them.
Thank you!
Prayers Bump for your son and all those on the ground and in the air battling the SoCal fires.
You too, huh? I can't figure out WHERE that's coming from.
Have you seen the "fire" thread? Karl put up a pic, along w/the info that they've run OUT OF FIRE ENGINES.
You have it...
Arson season's here again. Isn't it amazing that every time the Santa Anas kick up there's a major fire? Anyone heard any cause for this one?
they don't investigate til the fire is put out.
True in some cases but there are often reports from witnesses who've seen fires started or observed suspicious activity. The big Malibu fire several years ago was started by arsonists who were seen doing it. I can recall a number of other cases where arsonists were observed, like the Big Bear fire a couple of years ago.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.