KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
UPDATE: 11:43 a.m.
Active flames from the 35,000 acre Station Fire now visible from Acton. The fire line is reportedly three miles from the 14 freeway.
Mandatory evacuations have now been issued for homes on Aliso Canyon, between Angeles Forest Highway and Soledad Canyon Rd. Homes off Soledad Canyon Rd. south of Crown Valley Rd. are also under mandatory evacuation orders.
Update: According to Mark Savage, Public Information Officer with Los Angeles County Fire Department, firefighters have decided to create fire protection line along the Santa Clara Divide between Bear Divide and Mill Canyon. This is the main ridgeline south of the 14 freeway. In addition, air crews are prepping for a massive assault on the ridge to coincide with the dozer line, in an attempt to contain the fire at that location.
Savage notes that there is good news, in that temperatures are predicted to be about two degrees cooler than yesterday and the humidity should increase slightly. However, wind gusts of up to 20mph may also occur at the peak of the ridge, which could make the situation more difficult to control.
As of now, firefighters have moved structure protection units into the southern Sand Canyon area and near Acton, as a precaution only. No evacuations have been ordered for Sand Canyon or Placertita Canyon residents. For most of the area, the fire poses no real threat at this time. However, for homes that border national forest land, Savage recommends residents keep attentive of the situation and be prepared for any changes. Again, at this time there is no need to panic for any resident in Santa Clarita.
More resources have been directed to the area, and a multitude of fire crews are on standby.
Additionally, Santa Clarita City Manager Ken Pulskamp told KHTS that the winds are not pushing the fire in the direction of Santa Clarita at this time. While he confirmed that structure protection was on standby in select areas, he stressed that there is no part of Santa Clarita that is in immediate danger, and all coordination at this point is precautionary. The city’s emergency management system has not been activated.
Offramps from the 14 freeway at Soledad Canyon Road and Agua Dulce Canyon Road have been closed again, in anticipation of the Station Fire’s northward crawl.
Sunday could prove to be a turning point in this fire, for better or worse. A large number of additional firefighters and air resources have been flowing in overnight, and the increased numbers could help bring progress in the fight against the blaze. Additionally, temperatures are expected to begin to decrease slightly after several days of triple digit heat. Also good news for Acton; the fire would have to burn downhill in order to advance on the majority of the community. Fires burn much slower downhill, and that could buy much needed time for fire crews to build containment lines.
However, with only minor relief from the intense heat in sight and varying (although light) wind patterns, the Station Fire could still advance towards Acton and possibly some south eastern sections of the Santa Clarita valley. If this persists, evacuations could be issued and the 14 freeway could be closed in the area.
At this time no areas in Santa Clarita are immediately threatened. The majority of the danger to homes is in the southern portion of the fire area, in the communities of La Canada and Glendale.
A massive smoke plume is visible from all areas of Santa Clarita.
Station Fire:
- 35,000 acres
- 5% contained
- Several fronts including areas areas near La Crecenta, Glendale and Acton
- 1,804 fire personnel and growing.
The watch commander at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s station said that Sand Canyon Road is closed at Placerita Canyon Road and a full contingent of deputies and reserves is stationed at Bear Divide to assist firefighters with any evacuation or road closures. He told KHTS that the fire is close to reaching Acton and if winds shift in a northwestern direction, the fire will be on direct approach to our valley.
Refresh this story periodically for updates as they become available. Tune in to AM-1220 for live coverage of the fire if it reaches the valley.
Also, check out http://www.inciweb.org/ for updates on the Station Fire.
