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The Sage Fire. Photo by Melissa Lampert.

UPDATE: Sage Fire At 1,109 Acres, Containment 49 Percent, 2 Firefighters Injured

UPDATE:

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials report ‪#‎SageFire‬ is currently at 1,109 acres, with 65 percent containment.


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Related Article: Tips For Residents Forced To Evacuate From Sage Fire

Ed. Note: Due to the breaking nature of this incident, current information is displayed at the top of this article. As new information is posted, old information is pushed down.

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials have scaled back resources, but efforts to fight the blaze continue.

Tw0 firefighters were injured during their efforts, and are being treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to county fire officials.

No structures were lost in the blaze, although more than 700 homes were threatened at one point Saturday.

A Sheriff’s Department official confirmed for KHTS AM-1220 that the resources of assisting agencies were being scaled back as of 5:45 p.m.

Residents affected by the ‪#‎SageFire‬ were able to return to their evacuated homes late Saturday night and Los Angeles County Fire Department officials urge that only evacuated residents should return to the area Sunday and no one else.

Pico Canyon’s historic Mentryville was spared from the fire, according to Mayor Bob Kellar, and was confirmed by Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.

COC’s farmers market is closed due to fire fighting efforts being conducted on its Valencia campus.

Residents will continue to see heavy smoke in the area, and are being encouraged to remain cautious and follow news reports.

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials allowed residents to return to their homes Saturday night, large non-emergency vehicles are still banned from the area.

Residents will continue to see heavy smoke in the area, and are being encouraged to remain cautious and follow news reports.

Firefighters, including special night-capable water-dropping helicopters were on standby all night long as more than 1,200 firefighters and 10 aircraft helped assist in the effort.

Click here for information about how to help protect your home from incidents like the #SageFire.

Sage Fire Podcast Links:

Interview with Mayor Bob Kellar and Stephanie English of LACoFD

Interview with Congressman Steve Knight 

Interview with Jon Brown, disaster program manager for American Red Cross Los Angeles Region 

Video Link

LACoFD Deputy Chief Vince Pena discusses the dynamics early in the Sage Fire and the overview of the incident as they continue to battle the flames. Click here to watch the video provided by Los Angeles County Fire Department Division Three officials.

Air quality warnings have been issued for parts of the Santa Clarita Valley in response to the smoke from the fire, which is in effect until midnight tonight.

The farmer’s market that takes place at COC on Sundays was cancelled, as the regular space is being used as a staging ground for firefighters.

“Incident commanders are trying to repopulate the people,” said Guz Medina, a PIO for the department. “Nothing is certain, but that is one of their goals tonight.”

Factors such as wind and fire activity may change the efforts, Medina said.

Hotel rooms available in Santa Clarita:

La Quinta Inn and Suites- 9 rooms
Courtyard Marriott – 7 rooms
Embassy Suites by Hilton -11 rooms
Hilton Garden Inn -6 to 7 rooms

Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters will be working thorough the night to try and contain the fire by tomorrow, said department officials during a press conference at College of the Canyons.

The fire is moving west and north, and winds are expected to be at 15 mph Saturday night— potentially rising to 35 mph by Sunday afternoon, officials said.

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Department officials and California Highway Patrol officials all participated in the conference.

Firefighters will have flying capabilities during the night.

Structures are not threatened to the degree they were Saturday afternoon.

“We are going to try real hard on lifting evacuations and repopulating,” said Captain Roosevelt Johnson, of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Department.

Two injuries have been confirmed, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.

An inmate firefighter was reported to have a minor injury, and no additional information is available for the second injury.

700 homes have been evacuated and 2,000 residents have been affected in Stevenson Ranch by the Sage Fire, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.

The Old Road West of Laurel Crest Lane and the Old Road at Lyons Avenue are being closed by California Highway Patrol officers.

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is sending resources to help fight the fire, according to OCFA officials.

OCFA sent five brush engines and 18 firefighters are on route.

An inmate firefighter is reported to have a minor injury, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.

700 homes are currently being evacuated as a result of the ‪#‎SageFire‬. A new group of streets, covering about 250 homes, is being added to the evacuation list. Hazelcrest Lane, Bracken Lane, Laurel Crest Lane, Sage Crest from Smoky Wood Way, Summer Hill Lane, South Wind Court and Jazmine lane are all being evacuated by Sheriff’s Station deputies.

A new command post is being set up at College of the Canyons, and officials expect the number of acres burned to grow as more information comes in.

West Ranch High School is the only evacuation center. COC is currently being used as a command post for officials to coordinate firefighting efforts. The number of homes confirmed to have been evacuated has risen to 60, officials with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station confirmed.

Autumn Place, Shady Glen Ct. and Magnolia Lane, west of Oakridge are all being added to the evacuation list. It is unknown how many homes will be evacuated, but at least 50 households have already been displaced.

West Ranch High School, the original evacuation facility, will remain open to residents affected by the fire as an evacuation zone.

At least 200 firefighters are currently battling the blaze, with personnel from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Angeles National Forest Fire Department working with Santa Clarita Sheriff’s department officials to evacuate homes.

The evacuation area for residents affected by this fire has changed to College of the Canyons, in parking lot 5 and 6 in the lower portion of the campus. The school’s gym facilities will be opened to these residents. Approximately 40 homes are currently affected.

A total of forty homes in Stevenson Ranch have been evacuated. Residents of Southern Oak drive from Greenbriar to Meadow Way, as well as the entire street of Greenbriar have been added to the evacuation list.

The 5 freeway is currently affected, with traffic between Valencia and McBean Pkwy dipping to below 20 miles per hour.

The ‪#‎SageFire‬ is currently at 75 to 100 acres, and residents of some areas are being evacuated.

Residents of Old Stone, Morning Mist and Oak Creek are being evacuated. Residents of Southern Oak Drive are not being asked to evacuate currently, but officials warn that neighborhood might be next.

This is currently the area closest to the fire. Several streets in this neighborhood are being evacuated to West Ranch High School.

This is currently the area closest to the fire. Several streets in this neighborhood are being evacuated to West Ranch High School.

A vehicle fire in Stevenson Ranch sparked a brush fire near the Old Road and Calgrove blvd that has spread to nearly 100 acres, which officials are calling the #SageFire.

“It’s a possible vehicle fire in that area that spread to the brush,” said supervising fire dispatcher Cheryl Sims. “It happened on a dirt road.”

Firefighters are currently fighting the blaze, which Sims called a “well established fire.”

A representative from the Los Angeles County Fire Department said that fire officials are on scene as of 1:30 p.m. and are assessing the situation.

The fire has triggered a third-alarm response from firefighters, which includes air support.  Angeles National Forest fire crews are currently at a first alarm response to the fire, assisting the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Get live news updates about Santa Clarita by following KHTS on Facebook and KHTS on Twitter

Due to the location of the fire, in a brush-heavy area, fire crews are having difficulty asessing the blaze.

Santa Clarita is currently experiencing a low air quality, meaning that individuals with respiratory problems should take care to stay inside and away from smoke.

There is no word on the condition of any passengers involved in the crash that sparked the fire.

KHTS will update as more information becomes available.

 

The scene of the Sage Fire. Photos by Melissa Lampert.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

UPDATE: Sage Fire At 1,109 Acres, Containment 49 Percent, 2 Firefighters Injured

3 comments

  1. Says in headline 700 homes, says 60 homes in text. West Ranch is the evac center in one paragraph and COC is stated in next. Acreage covered changes throughout as well. So many contradictions in the article that it’s hard to know what’s going on.

  2. I have a few pictures of the fire, how can I get them to you?

  3. Such a tragedy! 700 or 60 homes – in any ways I hope everything turns back to normal as soon as possible.

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About Chris McCrory

Chris McCrory is the acting News Director for KHTS Radio. He set up a profile picture in his first week as an intern in 2015, and still isn't sure how to change it. He will graduate from Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism in December 2018.