Southern California’s week of flames and fears, as wildfires scorch a thirsty region
As a week of wildfires and frantic evacuations ramps down, authorities extended a red flag warning through Saturday afternoon in the interior mountains of Los Angeles County and the Santa Clarita Valley.
There also was a small chance the warning would reach into Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
Forecasters expect winds of 10 to 20 mph with isolated gusts to 35 mph this weekend.
That’s nowhere near the unusually strong gusts — 60 to 70 mph gusts — that had thousands fleeing their homes.
Still, with low humidity, between 2 and 8%, forecasters offered a note of caution.
“Even though the winds are dying, the air and brush (are) still very, very dry,” said Kristen Stewart, meteorologist for the weather service. “Any sort of ignition, like cigarettes thrown out, can light a fire.”
Unfortunately, she said, next week is expected to be bone dry – with no chance of rain.
This week at a glance:
Getty fire
When it started: Mon., Oct. 28 at 1:34 a.m.
Origin: 1800 North Sepulveda Boulevard in Brentwood
Cause/suspected cause: A dried eucalyptus tree branch that broke off during strong winds and subsequently landed on nearby LADWP powerlines near the origin of the blaze is thought to have caused sparking that ignited the brush, officials said.
Latest acreage and containment: 745 acres, 74% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: 10 homes destroyed and 15 homes damaged
Mandatory evacuations: 10,000 homes and 20,000 people
Easy fire
When it started: Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6:09 am
Origin: 200 West Los Angeles Avenue near the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley
Cause/suspected cause: Southern California Edison said one of its transmission lines was active at the time and place the fire was thought to have ignited.
Latest acreage and containment: 1,806 acres, 80% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: Two homes destroyed
Mandatory evacuations: 7,000 homes
Water fire
When it started: Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7:19 a.m.
Origin: 26000 block of Water Avenue in Nuevo just outside of Perris, Riverside County
Cause/suspected cause: Pending Investigation
Latest acreage and containment: Five acres, 100% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: Three outbuildings
Mandatory evacuations: 18 homes and 54 people
Hill fire
When it started: Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 9:58 a.m.
Origin: Granite Hill Drive and Pyrite Street in Jurupa Valley, Riverside County
Cause/suspected cause: Pending investigation
Latest acreage and containment: 628 acres, 95% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: None
Mandatory evacuations: 500 homes and 1,500 people
Mureau fire
When it started: Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 10:33 a.m.
Origin: Mureau Road and Mountain View Drive in Calabasas
Cause/suspected cause: Pending investigation.
Latest acreage and containment: 10 acres, 100%
Structures destroyed/damaged: None
Mandatory evacuations: None
Dexter fire
When it started: Wednesday, Oct. 30 about 11:45 a.m.
Origin: Indian Hill Road and Ladera Lane in Riverside
Cause/suspected cause: Pending investigation.
Latest acreage and containment: 30 acres, 100% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: None
Mandatory evacuations: 100 homes
Soledad fire
When it started: Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 3:40 p.m.
Origin: Soledad Canyon Road and the 14 Freeway in Santa Clarita
Cause/suspected cause: Pending investigation
Latest acreage and containment: 30 acres, 100% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: None
Mandatory evacuations: None
Brea Dam fire
When it started: Wednesday, Oct. 30 about 3:44 p.m.
Origin: A grassy field near the dam and 1700 block of Harbor Boulevard, Fullerton
Cause/suspected cause: Pending investigation
Latest acreage and containment: Flames consumed between one to two acres of light brush; 100% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: None
Mandatory evacuations: None
Castlewood fire
When it started: Wed., Oct. 30 at 7:15 p.m.
Origin: Near Castlewood Drive and Gilbert Drive in the Fullerton Hills
Cause/suspected cause: A flare gun was found Wednesday night in close proximity, but arson investigators still were working to determine what caused the fire, police and fire officials said.
Latest acreage and containment: 11 acres, 100% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: None
Mandatory evacuations: None
46 fire
When it started: Thursday, Oct. 31 at 12:39 a.m.
Origin: Near 46th Street and Crestmore Drive in Jurupa Valley, Riverside County
Cause/suspected cause: A vehicle with shredded tires drove into a grassy field while fleeing Riverside police, sparking the blaze, authorities said.
Latest acreage and containment: 300 acres and is 85% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: three homes destroyed and four commercial buildings significantly damaged
Mandatory evacuations: 1,200 homes and 3600 people
Hillside fire
When it started: Thursday, Oct. 31 at about 1:38 a.m.
Origin: Just north of Old Waterman Canyon Road and Highway 18
Cause/suspected cause: Investigators have not pinned it down, though they said there aren’t any power lines in the area.
Latest acreage and containment: 200 acres and 90% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: Six homes destroyed and 18 homes damaged
Mandatory evacuations: 490 homes and 1300 people
Maria fire
When it started: Thursday, Oct. 31 about 6:14 p.m.
Origin: South Mountain in Santa Paula, Ventura County
Cause/suspected cause: Though the cause is under investigation, Southern California Edison says it began to re-energize a 16,000-thousand-volt circuit 13 minutes before flames broke out on South Mountain.
Latest acreage and containment: 8,730 acres and 0% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: 3 homes destroyed
Mandatory evacuations: 2,722 homes and 10,888 people
Sobrante fire
When it started: Friday, Nov. 1 at 12:04 p.m.
Origin: La Sierra Ave. and Tin Mine Rd., Lake Mathews, Riverside County
Cause/suspected cause: Pending investigation.
Latest acreage and containment: 19 acres and 100% contained
Structures destroyed/damaged: None
Mandatory evacuations: None
The Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.