The fires had covered an area of 20,000 acres by Saturday evening, sending a pall of smoke across parts of Los Angeles County.
Advertisement
The area is among those ordered evacuated because of a wildfire that has blackened more than 31 square miles of brush and continues to rage in canyons and ranchlands. Officials said at least 1,500 homes were threatened by the flames. The fire in northern Los Angeles County grew, darkening skies.
The fire erupted Friday in nearly inaccessible terrain 5 miles south of Garrapata State Park.
This story has been corrected to say in the summary and ext. headline that fire has doubled in size.
More than 900 firefighters and water-dropping helicopters battled the flames overnight on several fronts. “It’s doing what it wants”.
The owner told KABC-TV (http://bit.ly/29WRfQC ) he had about $5 million in goods in the warehouse. “We fought as best as we could”.
Local media reported that a burned body had been recovered in the city of Santa Clarita, located some 55km from downtown Los Angeles, although it was unclear if the individual had died in the blaze.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District said those areas are susceptible to direct smoke impact and unhealthy air quality, and recommended that people stay indoors and avoid using swamp coolers and wood-burning appliances.
Some 400 animals were being evacuated from the Wildlife Waystation, a nonprofit sanctuary for rescued exotic creatures within the national forest.
Southern California firefighters toiled in another day of triple-digit heat from a dome of high pressure over the region.
More than 220 horses, dozens of goats and other animals were taken from the fire area, animal control officials said.
Sunday’s forecast called for low humidity with afternoon and evening winds gusting to 25 miles per hour or more that could once again fan the fires’ explosive growth.
About 300 miles up the coast, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighters battled a almost 3-square-mile blaze in rugged mountains north of the majestic Big Sur region.
The so-called Sand Fire began shortly after 2pm on Friday and spread quickly near Santa Clarita, about 40 miles (65km) northwest of the city, prompting evacuation orders on about 1,500 homes.
Jerri Masten-Hansen said she and her husband watched the fire creep in toward them.
Advertisement
A number of road closures were also in effect.
