Home » Podcasts » Part II: 10-Year Anniversary Of Buckweed Fires Remembered, The Ranch Fire
Photo Courtesy of the City of Santa Clarita

Part II: 10-Year Anniversary Of Buckweed Fires Remembered, The Ranch Fire

Ed. Note: This is the second in a four-part series looking at how three fires devastated the Santa Clarita Valley.

The Buckweed Fires were actually three fires that, at one point during the response, threatened to converge into one massive incident — a stark reminder of the ever-present fire danger in Los Angeles County.


Sponsored Articles


Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox.

The Ranch Fire:

The first fire of the Buckweed Fires was known as the Ranch Fire, and initially reported on October 20, 2007, at 9:42 p.m., on the west side of Interstate 5.

Santa Ana winds were moving at 25-30 miles per hour, with gusts up to 40 miles per hour and by 6 a.m. the fire consumed 500 acres, but officials thought it was slowing down.

Related story: 10-Year Anniversary Of Buckweed Fires Offers Reminder On Importance Of Fire Safety Plans

However, after a few hours, the winds picked up and spread the fire from 500 to 6,000 acres.

By end of the day, the fire had threatened communities of Fillmore, Piru, Ventura, Ojai, the Condor Reserve and Sespe Wilderness areas.

Winds continued to drive the fire, and by the morning of October 23, the area burned exceeded 50,000 acres and had moved into Ventura County.

If the winds continued, the Buckweed, Magic and Ranch fires had the potential to combine, according to report compiled by Cal Fire, the U.S. Forest Services and the Office of Emergency Services (OES).

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

By October 23, the Ranch Fire had consumed seven structures, closed Highway 126 and caused officials to turn the Fillmore Veterans Memorial Building into an evacuation center.

Large animals were evacuated to the Ventura County Fairgrounds, and small animals were moved to the Camarillo Animal Shelter.

Evacuations occurred in Chiquito Canyon, Halsey Canyon, Val Verde, Hopper Canyon and toward Fillmore with structure protection provided for Hasley, Piru, Sespe, Fillmore, and structures along Highway 126.

By the morning of October 24, the winds subsided and fire activity was scarce with small flames visible from the I-5.

Evacuations were lifted, and efforts refocused on securing the perimeter and mopping up.

By Oct. 30, the Ranch Fire was declared 100 percent contained.

Related story: Ranch Fire Reaches Full Containment

Donna Nuzzi, of the City of Santa Clarita, Emergency Services Division, reminded Santa Clarita residents of the importance of preparing for fires in and around their homes.

“It is extremely important to prepare for all hazards,” she said. “For house fires, according to the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), 40 percent of all house fires start because of cooking — usually leaving pots or pans unattended on the stove while you run away to do something for ‘just a minute.’”

She offered steps residents can take as precautions to prepare for wildfires:

  • Create a defensible space Outside the home:
  • around the home. Create a lean, clean and green zone by removing all flammable vegetation within 30 feet immediately surrounding the home.
  • Landscape with fire-resistant plants.
  • Maintain all plants with regular water and keep dead branches, leaves and needles removed.
  • Stack woodpiles at least 30 feet from all structures and remove vegetation within 10 feet of woodpiles.
  • Make sure your street address is visible from the street, especially at night.
  • Remove dead leaves and needles from roof and gutters.
  • Know multiple ways in and out of your community; know ways out of Santa Clarita—what does it mean for you if you go east, west, etc.
  • Be prepared to evacuate your pets. Have emergency kits for your pet, whatever the size from cat to horse.

Inside the home:

  • Keep a working fire extinguisher in the kitchen and garage.
  • Store matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
  • Clean fireplace chimneys and flues at least once a year.
  • Keep clothes dryers in working order, remove lint after each use and clean lint out of the vent pipe yearly.
  • Never leave a candle unattended.
  • Never leave something cooking on the stove or oven unattended.
  • Test smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries twice a year.
  • Replace electrical cords that do not work, or are frayed.
  • In the garage properly store flammable liquids in an approved container and away from ignition sources, such as pilot lights.
  • Practice EDITH—Exit Drills in The Home— with your family.
  • Make sure all family members understand how to STOP, DROP AND ROLL if their clothes should catch on fire.
  • Maintain a portable radio, flashlight and batteries.
  • Maintain a comprehensive first aid kit.
  • Keep copies of  important documentation records, have backups online, on a flash drive, or external drive.
  • Establish a family reunification plan if you are separated from family members.
  • Keep a backup charger ready for smartphones; also keep a hard copy of important numbers.
  • Understand your home insurance coverage- i.e. does your policy cover include rebuilding to the current building code standards.

Sign up with the City to receive emergency alerts here.

As Santa Clarita’s only local radio station, KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and sign up for KHTS email and text alerts today!

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

Part II: 10-Year Anniversary Of Buckweed Fires Remembered, The Ranch Fire

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Lorena Mejia

Lorena was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She attended California State University Northridge where she double majored in Journalism and Chicano Studies and minored in Spanish Language Journalism. While at CSUN, she worked for the university's television and radio newscast. Through her journalistic work, she earned membership to Kappa Tau Alpha, a national honor society for selected journalists. Her passion for the community has introduced her to new people, ideas, and issues that have helped shape the person she is today. Lorena’s skills include using cameras as a tool to empower people by informing them and creating change in their communities. Some of her hobbies include reading the news, exploring the outdoors, and being an avid animal lover. To contact Lorena, send your messages to lorena@hometownstation.com.