Los Angeles: Fire Forces Evacuations, Burns Homes in Sylmar Area

FOX News ^ | 15 November 2008

[bd476]

Fire Forces Evacuations, Burns Homes in Sylmar Area

Sayre Fire is near the 210 Freeway in Northern Los Angeles.

A dangerous, fast-moving brush fire in the Sylmar section of the San Fernando Valley, spread by gusting 50 mph winds has now burned at least five homes and is threatening several more, City Fire Department spokesperson Melissa Kelly said today.

So far there are no reports of injuries to residents or fire personnel, said Kelly.

The blaze ignited about 10:30 p.m. in the dry, brushy hills above 13000 W. Sayre Street near Shablow Ave, and has so far consumed more than 500 acres.

[Deo volente]

The so-called “forest jihad” is being championed by Islamic scholars and Osama Bin Laden’s terror strategists who believe setting fire to dry woodlands will produce maximum damage for minimum risk.

I wonder how they would feel if they were to see Mecca go up in flames.

Of course, the possibility of that happening under a President Obama is close to zero.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

neat site: carrying live video, maps, weather of the area:

http://dmz.up-south.com/la.html

[al baby]

From Kansas ?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you!

[rwfromkansas]

It happens every couple months out there...

I just don’t see why this is worse than every past fire.

[spectr17]

Kewl site. Thanks

[Arizona Carolyn]

Did you feel this caviler when the fires were burning across Oklahoma and Texas plains a year or two ago???????

[Brad’s Gramma]

I know! It just tickles my heart that so many homes have been lost!

Oh. Tee. Hee.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Latest summaries from Calfire

Freeway Fire

County: Riverside County / Orange County
Start Date/Time: November 15, 2008 at 9:01 p.m.
Location: Corona City, west of Hwy 71 and north of Hwy 91
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE / Orange County Fire Authority/ Corona City Fire / Anaheim Fire / Chino Valley Fire
Acres Burned: 2,000 acres
Containment: 0% contained
Freeway Fire Information: 714-573-6210

Sayre Fire

County: Los Angeles County
Start Date/Time: November 14, 2008 at 10:29 p.m.
Location: Sylmar
Administrative Unit: Los Angeles City Fire
Acres Burned: 7,500 acres
Containment: 10% contained
Sayre Fire Information : (800) 439-2909

Tea Fire

County: Santa Barbara County
Start Date/Time: November 13, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Montecito, Cold Spring Creek and Hot Springs Road
Administrative Unit: Santa Barbara County Fire
Acres Burned: 1,800 acres
Containment: 40% contained
Tea Fire Information : (805) 681-5197

[Deo volente]

A little Saturday evening trolling?

Things must be pretty dull out in Kansas.

[spectr17]

Earlier report of new fire in Loma Linda appears to be in La Loma Hills in Colton nearby, just to the west of Loma Linda. Not confirmed

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=la+loma+hills+colton+CA&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title

[PapaBear3625]

They must have the home owner’s permission in order to drain their pool. Home owner unavailable? Can’t drain the pool. Homeowner available but unwilling, still can’t drain the pool.

Have each homeowner sign an agreement (and have it on file and in the database) that it's OK to use his pool water in case of fire. Explain that if he doesn't sign, and there's a fire, then his neighbor's water will be used exclusively to protect his neighbor's property, not his.

Given the real estate situation, I would suspect what's really going on is these houses are worth more in insurance claims than they are on the market, and the point was made to various politicians who give orders to the fire companies.

[Arizona Carolyn]

We have friends who are out here visiting and just found out a house two houses from their home in Yorba Linda burned from flying embers. Their house is not on a hillside, it is in a flatter, settled area and there is no uncleared brush around them... How would they like us to make comments like this when they were flooding last spring or when hurricanes came ashore in Texas, or the state of Washington was flooding last week or when the plains were burning in Oklahoma/Texas a while back or when they are devastated by tornadoes?

People making their snide remarks here need to shut their mouth...Karma is a real $itch!

[spectr17]

I’m hearing an air attack saying he’s got a drop for Scott. Air attack still in the game

[dragnet2]

I just don’t see why this is worse than every past fire.

Well hey sh*t for brains...We don't see why any monster tornado is any different than any other past tornado that wipes our parts of Arkansas...

Good Gawd man, STFU. You're making a complete ass out of yourself.

We're all Americans here for Gods sakes. I'd advise you to crawl back into your hole and shut up.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Cause of the number of homes burned. This is much higher than a normal summer lighting fire up in the mountains...and the fact that it is a Santa Ana fire makes it a lot worse. Winds spark the flames like mad, burning more houses. This doesn’t happen all that much...like hurricanes don’t land every day, but when they do, it’s big news.

Wildfires usually don’t make much news until homes are threatened. This has been California’s year to burn...much more than most years.

[rwfromkansas]

I feel for those who have lost their homes, and I have been too cavilier about this.

I guess I have just been desensitized by seeing “California burning” every year and wondering why I should care anymore since these people built homes knowing they will probably go up in flames at some point.

The odds of getting hit with a tornado is very slim, so I have more sympathy in those cases. The overall risk is very low, even in Tornado Alley.

HOWEVER, since this is apparently moving closer and closer to the downtown LA area, I apologize for my rash comments.

This is not a problem in the wilderness and California woods....this is becoming a problem where many people live, so I am sorry for being so judgmental about that.

I hope the fires are put out quickly and no more homes are lost.

[dragnet2]

Or is it Kansas....Gezzz

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thank you.

[Arizona Carolyn]

People like you give conservatives a bad name.