Firefighters are battling a 37,473-acre brush fire called the Sand Fire off the northbound Highway 14 freeway near Sand Canyon Road, which is forcing the evacuation of some Santa Clarita Valley residents. #SandFire

Updated as of Tuesday 07/26/26 7:35 a.m. – Originally published at Monday 07/25/16 – 7:14 a.m.

Evacuation orders are being lifted everywhere except for residents in Placerita Canyon, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department officials.

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

Update Tuesday 7:35 a.m. – L.A. County Fire announced Tuesday morning that the fire is at 37,473 acres and 25 percent containment.

9:40 a.m. – Star Dance Center is collecting new or gently worn clothes for the families that lost their homes in the fire.Star Dance Center is located at 25075 Peachland Ave.in Newhall. Drop-ff times are Monday – Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Any questions can be directed to Star Dance at (661) 253-9909.

One more evacuation order remains—Agua Dulce Canyon Road from approximately 1/4 mile south of Highway 14  to Soledad Canyon Road and Soledad Canyon Road, one mile to the east and one mile to the west of Agua Dulce Canyon Road, according to Los Angeles National Forest officials.

6 p.m. 

Residents in previously evacuated areas will be allowed to return to their homes at 7 p.m. Monday, except for those located in:

Placerita Canyon Road from Running Horse Lane to Pacy Street, and Little Tujunga Canyon Road from the Wildlife Way Station to Sand Canyon Road & Placerita Canyon Road.

Only residents with ID will be allowed to repopulate in the re-opened areas.

5:25 p.m. Pierce College in Woodland Hills is accepting large animals, according to Los Angeles county Fire Department officials.

The Antelope Valley Fairgrounds have also been added to the list locations accepting large animals and Hansen Dam in Lakeview Terrace has reached its capacity of large animals, according to officials.

3:15 p.m. Sheriff’s Department officials are holding a briefing about #SandFire assistance efforts now at Golden Valley High School.

2:55 p.m. (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal funds to assist the state of California to combat the Sand Fire burning in Los Angeles County. On July 23, 2016, the State of California submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the Sand Fire.

At the time of the request, the fire was threatening 3,021 primary homes in and around the communities of Aqua Dulce, Lancaster, Pacoima, Placerita, Sand Canyon and Sylmar, with a total population of 45,000.  Mandatory evacuations were issued for approximately 500 people.

2:38 p.m. The city of Santa Clarita announced Concerts in the Park will not be taking place for at least the next two weeks. Central Park is being used as one of the staging ground to help with officials’ efforts. Furthermore, Canyon Country Park is opening to normal activities Tuesday, because the staging ground there for officials is moving to the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center and Sports Complex in Canyon Country.

2:10 p.m. – Dockweiler Drive is not currently under mandatory evacuation, but residents are being told to start preparing now so they can be ready, according to residents who are on scene in Canyon Country.

1:48 p.m. – The Angeles National Forest Service is advising all residents remaining in mandatory evacuation areas to leave NOW as flareups continue, sharing a photo of a flareup taking place at Via Princessa right now.

11:22 a.m. Fire officials reiterated the evacuation warning to residents of Sand Canyon and Placerita Canyon area. Eyewitness reports on scene indicate the homes near Running Horse Road are safe, but flames as high as 50-60 feet are threatening the area.

“The fire is flaring up on Running Horse Road, north of Placerita Canyon Road,” said Los Angeles County Fire PIO Stephanie English. “Residents in this area of Sand Canyon were previously ordered to evacuate area when the Sand Fire initially impacted the Sand and Placerita canyons.” 

That evacuation order is still in place, and the area should be evacuated immediately.

11:20 a.m. – All remaining summer school classes at Golden Valley High School will be moved to La Mesa Junior High beginning Tuesday morning, July 26.

The details of transportation, lunch and classroom logistics will be released by 2 p.m. today.

10:26 a.m. – KHTS AM-1220 Co-Owner Carl Goldman is reporting from the scene that Robinson Ranch looks okay for now, and fire helicopters are continuing to pick up water in the area.

Goldman is also reporting a number of flare ups around Sand Canyon, and that firefighters appear to be letting the canyons in the Placerita Canyon area near East Walker Ranch burn, causing heavy smoke heading towards Fair Oaks Ranch.

Goldman stressed that this smoke is not the fire and does not believe Fair Oaks Ranch is significantly impacted at this time, and said that most of the burn in Placerita Canyon appears to be heading toward the San Fernando Valley.

10:05 a.m. – The Metrolink Antelope Valley Line train service will operate Monday between Via Princessa and Los Angeles only. 

Air quality will be unhealthy for all individuals in the Santa Clarita Valley and for sensitive individuals in the San Gabriel Valley and San Gabriel Mountains today, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The Sand Fire smoke advisory issued July 23 is still in effect.

Residents with heart disease, asthma or other respiratory diseases are advised to minimize outdoor activities. Schools with children who have sensitive conditions — including heart disease, asthma, and other chronic respiratory diseases — should not participate in outdoor physical activity and should stay indoors as much as possible.

No new containment figures or number of acres burned in the Sand Fire is currently available. The latest information available is 33,117 acres burned and 10 percent containment.

10:00 a.m. – Central Park is closed to the public while fire personnel use it as a command center. 

9:35 a.m. – As Santa Clarita residents donate money to crowdfunding sites for firefighters, residents and law enforcement officials affected by the #SandFire, beware of potential scams.

GoFundMe recommends the public only donates to people they know and trust, and advises that when in doubt, don’t donate.

8:57 a.m. – The Sand Fire has burned 33,117 with 10% containment.

Winds will be out of the Southwest at 30 mph picking up in the afternoon. Fire behavior is expected to be similar to previous days. The fire is passive when winds remain low in the morning.

Fuels are responding to the 5-year drought, low humidity and extreme temperatures, which causes the fire to move quickly.

Damage assessment teams are carefully evaluating impact to structures from Sunday. As soon as the updated information becomes available, it will be provided. Currently, there are 18 structures destroyed and 1 damaged.

A total of 2,964 personnel, 43 crews, 356 engines, 14 dozers, 15 water tenders, 26 helicopters and 2 Rapid Extraction teams (firefighter rescue) are currently battling the Sand Fire.

One civilian fatality has been confirmed, with two firefighters sustaining minor injuries.

Approximately 20,000 residents are impacted, and 10,300 residents remain evacuated.

A total of 770 large animals are currently in the care of Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control. Large animals can go to Hanson Dam, Pierce College and Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. Small animals can go to Hart High School and Highland High School.

EVACUATIONS
East of the 14 Freeway, from Golden Valley Road to Sand Canyon Road, excluding the Sand Canyon
Mobile Home Park (residents to evacuate; commercial businesses to shelter in place)
East side of Via Princessa from Lost Canyon Road to end of Via Princessa and all streets east.
Lost Canyon Road from Via Princessa to the Santa Clara River, and all streets to the east.
Sierra Highway @ Shady Lane to Sierra Hwy at the 14.
Escondido at the 14 to Sierra Hwy at the 14.
Agua Dulce Canyon Road north to the 14 Freeway.
Crown Valley Road north to the 14 Freeway.
Soledad Canyon Road between Agua Dulce & Crown Valley.
All residents in Sand Canyon from Lost Canyon to Bear Divide.
All residents in Placerita Canyon from the Nature Center to Sand Canyon.
Little Tujunga from Bear Divide to LA River Ranger District (Station), 12371 Little Tujunga Cyn Rd.

Fire officials are instructing residents to evacuate large animals early in the morning to avoid congestion and allow firefighting equipment better access to the area.

8:30 a.m. – A press conference has been scheduled for 9 a.m. at Golden Valley High School. Visit KHTS AM-1220 on Facebook for live coverage starting at 9 a.m.

CORRECTION – 8:04 a.m. – While reports were received around 7 a.m. that some homes in the Fair Oaks Ranch area were being re-opened to residents, Sheriff’s Station officials confirmed that all homes in the area remain evacuated.

7:35 a.m. – All summer school classes at Golden Valley are cancelled for the day.

7:14 a.m. – The #SandFire remains at 33,117 acres and is 10% contained. Close to 3k personnel are engaged in suppression.

Here is the latest graphic released by the Angeles National Forest Service around 7 a.m. Monday morning:

The latest information available as of 7:14 a.m. is as follows:

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS:
East of the 14 Freeway, from Golden Valley Road to Sand Canyon Road, excluding the Sand Canyon Mobile Home Park (residents to evacuate; commercial businesses to shelter in place)
East side of Via Princessa from Lost Canyon Road to end of Via Princessa and all streets east.
Lost Canyon Road from Via Princessa to the Santa Clara River, and all streets to the east.
Sierra Highway @ Shady Lane to Sierra Hwy at the 14.
Escondido at the 14 to Sierra Hwy at the 14.
Agua Dulce Canyon Road north to the 14 Freeway.
Crown Valley Road north to the 14 Freeway.
Soledad Canyon Road between Agua Dulce & Crown Valley.
All residents in Sand Canyon from Lost Canyon to Bear Divide.
All residents in Placerita Canyon from the Nature Center to Sand Canyon.

ROAD CLOSURES:
Sand Canyon and Soledad Canyon – no entry into Sand Canyon.
No access to Sand Canyon at northbound 14 Freeway.
Sand Canyon and Lost Canyon – no traffic into Sand Canyon.
Placerita Canyon and the 14 Freeway – no traffic into Placerita Canyon.
Soledad Canyon Road eastbound from the 14 Freeway.
Agua Dulce Canyon Road eastbound from the 14 Freeway.
Crown Valley Road eastbound from the 14 Freeway.
Sand Canyon Road east of Placerita Canyon to 12300 Little Tujunga.

EVACUATION CENTERS:
Highland High School 39055 25th Street West, Palmdale, 93551
Hart High School, 24825 N. Newhall, Santa Clarita, 91321
Lakeview Terrace Recreation Center, 11075 Foothill Blvd, Lakeview Terrace, 91340

LARGE ANIMAL EVACUATION:
Antelope Valley Fair Grounds 2551 W. Avenue H. Lancaster CA 93536

Recent drone activity has occured over the fire in the Bear Divide Area. When drones interfere with firefighting efforts, a wildfire has the potential to grow larger and cause more damage. On the Sand Fire­­, an FAA Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is in effect and any private aircraft or drone that violates the TFR could face serious criminal charges. Even without a TFR, anyone who hampers firefighting efforts could face charges­­­. For more information on drones the public can visit the FAA’s website atwww.KnowBeforeYouFly.org. “If you fly, we can’t!­”

(Monday) 12:58 a.m. – Real Life Church is opening the doors of the Savia Community Center at 23780 Newhall Ave., in Newhall to help evacuees around the clock, according to church officials.  Click this link for more information. rlc.is/sandfire

(Sunday) 10:37 p.m. – Santa Clarita released changes in scheduled activities for Monday due to health concerns from the Sand Fire. Here’s a link,http://bit.ly/2a9g9gB More information is available at SantaClaritaEmergency.com

10:15 p.m. – LA County Fire is now reporting the fire is at 33,172 acres. There is no updated figure for containment. The last report cited 10 percent.

New evacuations are as follows, Agua Dulce canyon road north to the 14 Fwy. Crown valley North to the 14 Fwy and all off Soledad in between. Also all of Bootlegger Canyon. Please be prepared, Ready, Set, Go!

New Evacuation Center for these areas:

Highland High School

39055 25th Street West

Palmdale, 93551

Large animal evacuations:

Antelope Valley Fair Grounds

2551 W. Avenue H.

Lancaster CA 93536

Current Road Closures:

Sand Canyon and Soledad Canyon – no entry into Sand Canyon No access to Sand Canyon at northbound 14 Freeway.

Sand Canyon and Lost Canyon – no traffic into Sand Canyon

Placerita Canyon and the 14 Freeway – no traffic into Placerita Canyon

Soledad Canyon Road eastbound from the 14 Freeway.

Agua Dulce Canyon Road eastbound from the 14 Freeway.

Crown Valley Road eastbound from the 14 Freeway.

Sand Canyon Road east of Placerita Canyon to 12300 Little Tujunga.

Mandatory Evacuations:

East of the 14 Freeway, from Golden Valley Road to Sand Canyon Road, excluding the Sand Canyon Mobile Home Park (residents to evacuate; commercial businesses to shelter in place)

East side of Via Princessa from Lost Canyon Road to end of Via Princessa and all streets east.

Lost Canyon Road from Via Princessa to the Santa Clara River, and all streets to the east.

Sierra Highway @ Shady Lane to Sierra Hwy at the 14.

Escondido at the 14 to Sierra Hwy at the 14.

Agua Dulce Canyon Road north to the 14 Freeway.

Crown Valley Road north to the 14 Freeway.

Soledad Canyon Road between Agua Dulce & Crown Valley.

All residents in Sand Canyon from Lost Canyon to Bear Divide.

All residents in Placerita Canyon from the Nature Center to Sand Canyon.

Little Tujunga from Bear Divide to LA River Ranger District (Station), 12371 Little Tujunga Cyn Rd.

Evacuation Centers:

Highland High School, 39055 25th Street West, Palmdale, CA 93551

Hart High School, 24825 N. Newhall, Santa Clarita, 91321

Lakeview Terrace Recreation Center, 11075 Foothill Blvd, Lakeview Terrace, 91340

The Evacuation Center at Golden Valley High School has been closed.