Posted on 09/29/2005 8:19:10 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES - A wind-whipped brush fire quickly tripled in size early Thursday to more than 9,300 acres, destroying at least one home and prompting evacuations as a ridge of flames was visible for miles.
The blaze burned to the edge of a number of multimillion-dollar homes that abut rural, picturesque hillsides in the San Fernando Valley. Homes in several communities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties were evacuated, but officials did not release an exact number.
"Our house is still OK, but oh, God, it's not a good feeling," said Phil Goldenberg, 53, who was at an evacuation shelter at Canoga Park High School with his wife and son.
Late Wednesday night, bright red flames 10 to 15 feet high stretched several miles across much of the western edge of the valley.
"It's pretty hard to deal with when it's dry brush and dry fuel. There's not a lot you can do to stop it," said Paul Shakstad of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Fire officials confirmed that one home had been destroyed, although two structures that appeared to be homes could be seen burning in a news broadcast.
Past wildfires fanned by Santa Ana winds have roared south to Malibu, the celebrity-packed community about 10 miles away, and that's one of the biggest fears firefighters have with this blaze, Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Mark Savage said.
Authorities planned an all-out assault against the fire at daybreak using water dropping helicopters and tanker planes, he said. No evacuations were reported at Malibu.
More than 700 firefighters were on the scene, fire spokesman Ron Haralson said earlier. One firefighter was struck on the head by a 40-pound boulder and was taken to a hospital, officials said.
The fire was only 5 percent contained early Thursday, authorities said.
A blaze in Riverside County, meanwhile, spread over 1,330 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.
So far this year, wildfires have charred 8.16 million acres nationwide, compared with 7.74 million acres at the same time last year, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
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On the Net:
National Interagency Fire Center: http://www.nifc.gov
Yes, Bell Canyon has been evacuated. It is on the Mandatory list,as stated on local TV this morning.
There is a lot of fuel. Eveytime the fire department tries to do controlled burns or cut fire breaks, the enviro wacko's file lawsuite to protect the nat-catcher or some other insect.
--gotta burn the brush off so you can have mudslides---
I just want cash.
Well, you know. You guys have your procedures, we have ours.....
My son's inlaws live on Castle Peak Drive, directly across from Bell Canyon. My son called this morning to let me know that they were evacuated during the night.
pray...
Look at the Northern San Fernando Valley. Follow 118 West to Topanga and it's mostly North of there.
Are you kidding? $10,000 won't get you an outhouse in that neighborhood. We'll need a lot more than that. (I can see the smoke from my house, so I'm "affected" too. Where's my shopping spree?)
Do a map search on Yahoo for Bell Canyon, CA. The area is between the 118 and 101 freeways west of highway 27. The fire is spreading towards the SW.
You can see the smoke plume from this satellite pic:
http://sat.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/1km/Oxnard/VIS1LAX.GIF
$10,000 AND a house. Not $10,000 FOR a house.
National FiRe Maps
http://www.nifc.gov/firemaps.html
I've seen that before. Leads to sterilized soils, homes ruined, and a lot of bark beetle problems that aren't being controlled.
Man oh man does it feel like Earthquake Weather today or what?
I expect the federal government will offer to rebuild the burned-out chicken coops.
Oh and send some Grey Poupan!
Typical Californian. Big fire going on and his out riding his mountain bike. Yes!
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