Fire in LA area

[Marilyn. 340]

PORTER RANCH, Calif. -- Aerial crews responded Monday to a wildfire on a mountain above a Porter Ranch neighborhood.

The fire was reported just before 10:50 a.m. on the top of Oat Mountain. The area is just north of the 118 Freeway near Porter Ranch.

Aerial units were dispatched to the location. Helicopters scooped water from a nearby golf course.

The fire is not threatening homes. A valley and street separate the base of the mountain from the east side of the gated community.

As of 11:30 a.m., no evacuations were in order.

Firefighters were sent to the area north of the 12800 block of Tampa Avenue late Monday morning, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The property is described as "oil fields," Humphrey said.

Fire officials said there could be a "variety of man-made and natural causes."

At 10:47 a.m., the California Highway Patrol closed all southbound lanes on the southbound 14 Freeway. Traffic was diverted at Via Princessa.

The fire is one of two major incidents Monday in Southern California. The Marek Fire burned more than 3,700 acres near Lake View Terrace.

http://www.knbc.com/news/17704383/detail.html

this is a bit old because the latest I heard on the TV they have issued evacuation orders as the fire is threatening a bunch of homes and it has burned down a trailer park which led to one fatality already...

[*JG* 2]

'Tis the season in California. I hate hearing this sort of thing. So sad.

[Marilyn. 340]

this is more informative...

Oat Mountain burning above Porter Ranch

* Update: All Los Angeles TV new stations are live on the fires.

A fast-moving new fire has erupted in the Santa Susana Mountains and is laying down smoke on the residential area of Porter Ranch, at the north end of the west San Fernando Valley. Channel 2 says the flames are being blown down hill from Oat Mountain toward the homes. Meanwhile, the fire that began yesterday in Little Tujunga Canyon jumped the containment lines over night and has reached Foothill Boulevard in at least one spot. It has scorched 3,200 acres, with the wind gusting again. Homes in Lake View Terrace and Sylmar have been creeping further up into the brush in recent decades, and those are the developments most threatened. Smoke is becoming a problem for residents in both areas, and the American Lung Association has posted tips for people in the fire areas.

Updates from media reports:

* The eastern fire is called the Marek Fire, the new one above Porter Ranch to the west is the Sesnon Fire.

* The 210 freeway remains closed between I-5 and the Glendale Freeway. The eastbound 118 is closed between I-5 and the 210. Traffic is being allowed to move on the southbound 14, where two small fires also broke out in the Canyon Country area. 11:25 am.

* Nine LAUSD schools have been closed in the fire areas. Sylmar and San Fernando high schools are open to evacuees and are still holding classes.11:42 am

* TV reporters are talking a lot about the water drops missing their marks due to the wind. 11:44 am

* Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, at the live press conference, just raised the specter of a widespread regional fire and alerted people way downwind in Bell Canyon and other communities to be alert. 11:52 am

* Mayor Villaraigosa confirms one fatality in the city of Los Angeles portion of the Marek fire, "on or about Foothill Boulevard." No name or circumstances released. He says no structures have been lost in the city portion. 11:55 am

The Hansen Dam evacuation facility for horses is full, per Councilwoman Wendy Greuel. Politicians are cycling through the podium at the press conference.11:58 am

Fire chiefs recap: 3,750 acres burned on the Marek fire, 500 acres at the Sesnon fire. An unknown number of mobile homes were destroyed in Los Angeles County territory at the Marek fire, especially at the Sky Terrace Mobile Home Park. 1,200 homes are evacuated. 12:03 pm

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2008/10/...urning_abov.php

[Scott & Lai 12]

Must be October again...

[Marilyn. 340]

yes I am aware that the fires are a regular occurrence this time of year..

my point in bringing it up is that at least one person has died because of the fire....

and the strong winds are not helping matters with these fires...

[Teacher Mark 53]

I was just on the Glendale freeway and the 210 a few days ago. That makes me in the area when No. Cal. was burning, in Miami 1 day before it was evacuated for Fay and now So. Cal.! I'm in Atlanta now, if anyone reading this lives here you may want to consider fleeing!

Edited October 13, 2008 by Joe Six-Pack

[almaty 19]

terrible..

[IAMX 3,055]

3,200 acres isn't catastrophic, but certainly something you want to stop before it gets into the tens of thousands. Those Santa Ana winds are infamous for fanning the flames.

Edited October 13, 2008 by SRVT

[Marilyn. 340]

[Marilyn. 340]

[IAMX 3,055]

Yucky. Wonder if they're gonna do any controlled burns of prone areas.

[Marilyn. 340]

these pictures look a little scary....

people aren't even allowed to drive back their houses.. they are letting them walk in and are only allowed to bring their possessions they can carry...

[MariaBonita 11]

Sad. I'll keep everyone in my thoughts and prayers.

[Amby 490]

The photos I saw online last night looked like something you'd see on a movie. It was pretty crazy. There was only two big fires when I lived in LA and one was out in Claremont (I think) so I didn't even notice it much and then I think the other was close to Ventura and I only really paid attention to that because a friend of mine lost her house. It's really crazy to see though. Hopefully they get it under control soon.

[Amby 490]

ugh nvm

Edited October 14, 2008 by Amby