201910.11
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Saddleridge fire in Sylmar burns at least 1,600 acres, forces evacuations; flames leap over 5 Freeway

by in News

UPDATE: The Saddleridge fire is closing these freeways and roads in Sylmar, Granada Hills, Porter Ranch and Santa Clarita

A rapidly moving brush fire fanned by strong winds threatened communities in Sylmar and Granada Hills early Friday, charring more than 1,600 acres, destroying at least one commercial building and possibly homes, while prompting evacuations and snarling traffic on major Southern California freeways.

  • A firefighter puts water on a fully engulfed house on Jolette Way in Granda Hills North early Friday morning. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • A fire patrol keeps an eye on a flare-up along Yarnell Street in Sylmar early Friday morning. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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  • Firefighters put water on flames along Yarnell Street in Sylmar early Friday morning. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • LAPD officers evacuate residents from the Oakridge neighborhood in Sylmar early Friday morning as fire approaches. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Huge flames burn the hills by a power line tower from a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Flames surround the hillsides along the empty I-5 and 14 freeways early Friday morning. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • A firefighter cuts though a fence to gain access to the Saddle Ridge fire along Yarnell Street in Sylmar early Friday morning. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Firefighters fight a wind driven fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Jacob Salzman)

  • Flames from the Saddleridge fire burn just north of gated communities and a shopping center in Porter Ranch early Friday, Oct. 11 (Eric Licas, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Flames from the Saddleridge fire burn just north of gated communities and a shopping center in Porter Ranch early Friday, Oct. 11 (Eric Licas, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Emergency responders mobilize in Sylmar, where the Saddleridge fire was first reported before growing to consume at least 1600 acres of brush on Thursday, Oct. 10 (Eric Licas, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Flames burn along the hills north of Sesnon Blvd Friday morning. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Flames shoot from the front of a house on Jolette Way in Granda Hills North early Friday morning. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Flames burn very close to a truck along Yarnell street in Sylmar early Friday morning. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • A firefighter puts water on a fully engulfed house on Jolette Way in Granda Hills North early Friday morning. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Firefighters re-fill their truck with water along Sesnon Blvd early Friday morning as flames burn on the hills. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Firefighters fight a wind driven fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Mike Meadows)

  • A house burns to the ground on Jolette Way in Granda Hills North early Friday morning. The fast wind-driven fire spread rapidly from Sylmar to Porter Ranch late Thursday and early Friday morning October 11, 2019 destroying at least three homes. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Firefighters fight a wind driven fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Jacob Salzman)

  • Los Angeles County fire water tender rig battles a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, California, U.S., on October 10, 2019. Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer

  • Los Angeles County fire water tender rig battles a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Drivers try to turn around on the 210 freeway to get away from a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Local residents evacuate as firefighters battle a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Los Angeles County firefighters get on the 210 freeway to battle a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Firefighters fight a wind driven fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Jacob Salzman)

  • Firefighters fight a wind driven fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Jacob Salzman)

  • Los Angeles County firefighters get on the 210 freeway to battles a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Huge flames burn in the hills from a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Drivers pass by heavy flames on the north bound I-5 freeway from a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Local residents evacuate from a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Firefighters battle a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Flying embers cross over the hills from a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • A bulldozer burns from a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

  • Flying embers cross over the hills from a wind driven wild fire in Sylmar, CA., on October 10, 2019. (Photo by Gene Blevins/Contributing Photographer)

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MAP: Where the Saddleridge fire is burning in Sylmar

The Saddleridge fire was initially reported in the Sylmar area as burning brush moving uphill near the 210 Freeway and Yarnell Street at about 9 p.m., officials said. It had grown to consume more than 60 acres by 11 p.m., and led firefighters to evacuate hundreds of residents.

Flames jumped Interstate 5, sparking a separate blaze that was quickly burning to the west of the freeway near Granada Hills and Porter Ranch.

Mandatory evacuations were in place for the Oakridge Estates community, just north of the 210 Freeway. Over 280 firefighters with the LAFD were assigned to the blaze. Residents in the area west of Balboa Boulevard, east of Tampa Avenue and north of Senson Boulevard, also were placed under a mandatory evacuation order.

An evacuation center for people and small pets was set up at the Sylmar Recreation Center at 13109 Borden Avenue. An evacuation center for large pets was set up at the Hansen Dam at 11798 Foothill Boulevard in Lake Terrace.

Officials said late Thursday that the blaze destroyed one commercial building. It wasn’t immediately clear whether other structures were damaged or destroyed, thought televised images early Friday appeared to show some homes being consumed by flames.

Smoke was impacting traffic the 210 Freeway, LAFD officials said.

A citywide tactical alert was declared by the Los Angeles Police Department in response to the fire.

“We are working with LAFD to carry out any necessary evacuations,” police said on social media. “If you live in the area of the 210 Freeway and Yarnell in Sylmar, we urge you to be prepared and follow all public safety instructions.”

This is a developing story.