Santa Ana Winds Fan Brush Fires Around Southern California
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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.
Please, I want to ask for prayers of all of the fire fighters. Our son is one of them.
Thank you!