KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
While evacuations are still in place for parts of Placerita Canyon, firefighters gained the upper hand in containment Wednesday with the Sand Fire, which had now burned more than 38,000 acres.
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Acting Governor Tom Torlakson issued emergency proclamations Wednesday for Los Angeles and Monterey counties due to the effects of the Sand and Soberanes fires, which have burned tens of thousands of acres of land, threatened thousands of homes and other structures and caused the evacuation of residents.
Torlakson made the declaration as the highest ranking state official left in Sacramento, due to the Democratic National Convention, making him the de facto governor, according to the state’s constitution.
The next step is for state officials to forward that request onto federal officials in hopes that they will be able to declare a natural disaster, which requires a financial threshold of damage to be proven.
“People are going to see some smoke today from the inside of the fire,” said Nathan Judy, PIO for the Angeles National Forest Service. “If you see any fire, it’ll be from the interior of the fire, as the fuel burns back.”
More than 2,937 firefighters are engaged in fighting the Sand Fire, according to Angeles National Forest Service officials. Resources include 275 engines, 72 hand crews, 14 water tenders, 12 helicopters and 29 dozers. The command post is located at Golden Valley High School.
The have been 18 structures destroyed, several of which have been confirmed as homes. One additional structure significantly was damaged, and five others sustained lesser damage.
Firefighters issued repeated warnings about drones throughout the fire. “Recent drone activity has occurred over the fire. Sheriff’s deputies are actively attempting to locate and stop this intrusion,” according to Sheriff’s Station officials. When drones interfere with firefighting efforts, a wildfire has the potential to grow larger and cause more damage in part because aircraft are not able to fly.
#SandFire Evacuations
Little Tujunga Canyon Road from the Wildlife Way Station to Sand Canyon Road and Placerita Canyon Road
Openings and ongoing road closures
Santa Clarita Valley openings
Placerita Canyon Road at the 14 Freeway
Golden Valley Road at the 14 Freeway
Via Princessa at Lost Canyon Road
Sand Canyon Road at Lost Canyon Road
Santa Clarita Valley Closures
Soledad Canyon Road at the 14 Freeway
Sand Canyon Road south of Placerita Canyon Road
Agua Dulce Openings
Escondido Canyon Road at the 14 Freeway
Agua Dulce ongoing hard closures
Agua Dulce Canyon Road at the 14 Freeway (This is a soft closure, residents with ID ONLY)
Agua Dulce Canyon Road at Soledad Canyon Road (This is a hard closure. No entry)
Acton openings
Crown Valley Parkway at the 14 Freeway
Crown Valley Parkway at Soledad Canyon Road
Acton ongoing hard closures
Soledad Canyon Road at Bootlegger Canyon Road
Little Tujunga hard closure
Little Tujunga Canyon Road north of the Wildlife Way Station
Evacuation Centers (Remain open at this time)
Hart High School, 24825 N. Newhall, Santa Clarita, 91321
Highland High School, 39055 25th Street West, Palmdale 93551
How reassuring it is to be able to watch the Los Angeles County Fire Department spring into action and save as many structures and prevent loss of life in a fire that grew as big and fast as the Sand Fire has. We are so fortunate to have not only the Los Angeles County Fire Department but the numerous other fire departments that participated under the mutual aid agreement. Credit also goes to the air operations technology with credit going to Canada for the use of their air craft in doing these water drops that are invaluable particularly in areas otherwise inaccessible by hand crews and hoses. Give a shout out to our great firefighters for the awesome job they perform at a moments notice 24-7-365