Updated Monday, October 29th at 11:54am
Current containment numbers on the Ranch (Castaic) Fire:
58,401 acres burned, 97% containment. Officials now expecting full containment on October 30th.
The weekend weather was favorable for firefighters, with cloudy skies and even some sprinkles falling throughout the area on Saturday.
Vasquez Bridge is closed due to fires : The County is estimating that the bridge will be re-opened by November 12th.
Repairs are continuing on the I-5 Freeway truck lane tunnel. Cal-Trans is now saying it will take weeks, not months before it re-opens.
Two local assistance centers have been established by FEMA from Oct 26th – Nov 8th (M-F) 8am- 6pm (Sat- Sun) 8am- 3pm at:
City of Santa Clarita Sports Complex in the Activities Center
George A. Caravalho Santa Clarita Sports Complex
20880 Centre Pointe Parkway
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
Castaic Regional Sports Complex
31230 North Castaic Road
Castaic, CA 91384
Please pre-register by telephone (800) 621-FEMA (3362) or TTY (800) 462-7585 or online at fema.gov
BE AWARE OF SCAMS- Some people are taking advantage of our residents by offering services for a large deposit to clean up debris but are not performing any services.
If you are offered any home improvement services and are asked to receive the permit yourself by the contractor beware; that could mean the contractor is not licensed.
Red Cross numbers:
The American Red Cross has been working hard to assist those impacted by this disaster here in Santa Clarita. If you, or someone you know lost their home or needs Red Cross Disaster assistance, you can call their temporary family services number at 661-222-3191. Their permanent main office line is 661-259-1805. And the 24-hour Red Cross hotline number is: (800) 540-2000.
The American Red Cross is taking donations for the Southland Fires. Santa Clarita, has its own Red Cross district office that is part of the American Red Cross, Los Angeles Chapter. If you would like your donation to the Red Cross to remain serving the Santa Clarita Valley, please send your donations to our local Red Cross Office and make certain you note: Santa Clarita Fires on the memo of your check:
American Red Cross
23838 West Valencia Blvd.
Santa Clarita, CA. 91355
(661) 259-1805
The SCV Disaster Coalition is now prepared to accept donations that will go to help the families who were impacted by this disaster. Here's how you can help:
They are asking for donations of either gift cards or money. There are three drop off locations here in town, or you can mail your donation. You may also donate online at scvcoalition.com.
If you would like to mail your donation, please mail it to:
(make sure to make the check out to the SCV Disaster Coalition…not KHTS. )
SCV Disaster Coalition
Care Of KHTS AM 1220 Radio
27225 Camp Plenty Rd, Suite 8
Santa Clarita, CA 91351
Or you can drop a donation off at one of these locations:
Santa Clarita Senior Center
22900 Market Street
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
(661) 259-9444
Santa Clarita City Hall
23920 Valencia Boulevard,
Santa Clarita, California 91355
KHTS AM 1220 Radio
27225 Camp Plenty Rd, Suite 8
Santa Clarita, CA 91351
The ranch at the Heads Up, Horseback Riding Therapy Program burnt down on Bouquet. Currently, Heads Up needs the following items:
STABLE SUPPLIES
Fly Spray – both sprays and roll-ons.
Body Clippers
Small clippers for trimmings
Small buckets
Hoof dressings
Brushes
Polo wraps – leg protection
Quilted pillow wraps – for legs
1 cribbing strap
RIDING EQUIPMENT
Bridles
Bits
Reins
1 breastplate
Western Saddles
Cinches & girths
English Saddles – needs to be All purpose models / with high cantle &
knee pads. Mainly kids size.
Safety stirrups – peacock
Saddle pads
Lunge whip
Lunge lines
The 12 Heads Up horses are currently being accomodated and a private
residence in Sand Canyon. No plans have been announced yet regarding
the lesson and training program's resuming. First, the needs of the
horses and facility must be met to ensure safety for the animals and
riders.
Volunteers are needed to help with clean-up and horse care.
Please contact Ecole Lathrop
Valencia Sport Saddlery
26046 Bouquet Canyon Rd.
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
661-255-6713
Here is the latest status of the three fires that have ravaged Santa Clarita since Saturday night.
All evacuations and road closures caused by the Ranch Fire have officially been lifted.
Magic Fire
100% Contained
According to the LA County Fire Department, the cause of this fire appears to have been construction workers welding in the area.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spent Tuesday touring southern California sites ravaged by the fires. Santa Clarita was one of those locations, as the governor joined most of our elected officials at a press conference Tuesday night. The SCV, among other cities is getting state and federal assistance, now that a state of emergency has been declared at the local, state and federal levels. Schwarzenegger thanked volunteers and firefighters who have worked for days on end, and he said he was fully briefed by all the chiefs.
LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich was also on hand at the press conference, where he spoke about working at the county level to help those who lost their homes. He said he’d be writing a letter to financial institutions to ask for some leeway in mortgage payments, and discussions are also taking place with the tax assessor to try and adjust property values for those who no longer have a home.
To read yesterday's article, click here.
Also, President Bush has declared a Major Disaster for seven counties that have fought these fires. Below we have posted information from his website that details what happens next:
The President's action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Federal funding also is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura for debris removal and emergency protective measures.
Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Michael J. Hall as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
FEMA said that damage surveys have been requested and will be conducted as soon as the situation permits.
FEMA said that those who sustained losses in the counties designated for aid to affected individuals and business owners can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) Monday thru Sunday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.