A sudden fire that broke out near the houses in Sylmar on Thursday night has increased to more than 4,000 hectares and led authorities to place more than 12,000 houses under mandatory evacuation orders Friday morning.
The great fire, called the Saddleridge fire, was reported shortly after 9 p.m. near the Yarnell Road exit of Highway 210.
The llamas had burned approximately 4,600 hectares and had a containment of approximately 0% at 4 a.m. Friday
The fire burned westward through thickets and threatened several homes in the Porter Ranch and Granada Hills areas.
Firefighters are dealing with high winds, which blow with gusts of up to 60 miles per hour.
At least one commercial building and several houses are among the structures that have already been burned, according to an update from the Los Angeles Fire Department. Officials do not have an estimated number of homes destroyed.
Highway Closure
The dangerous flames of the Saddleridge fire have caused several highway closures.
Highway 5 is closed from Roxford Street to Calgrove Boulevard; Highway 14 Southbound is closed on Newhall Avenue; Highway 210 from Highway 118 to Highway 5; Highway 118 from Balboa Boulevard to Avenida De Soto.
Mandatory evacuations
Mandatory evacuations were ordered for about 12,700 homes, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported Friday morning. Those evacuations include the following areas:
- All Porter Ranch, from Reseda to De Soto
- Oakridge Estates
- West of Balboa, north of Sesnon to the Ventura County border
Evacuation centers for people and small pets were opened at the Sylmar Recreation Center (13109 Borden Avenue) and at the Northridge Recreation Center (18300 Lemarsh Street).
The evacuation centers at Mason Park and Granada Hills Recreation Center are full and no longer accept residents as of Friday morning, the Fire Department said.
School closure
The following Los Angeles Unified School District schools will be closed on Friday due to fire and smoke conditions:
- Castlebay Lane Elementary
- Danube Avenue Elementary
- El Oro Way Elementary
- Haskell Elementary
- Knollwood Elementary
- Porter Ranch Community School
- Van Gogh Elementary
- Frost Middle School
- John F. Kennedy High School
- Rinaldi Adult Learning Center
Sim Valley Unified School District also announced the closure of all schools on Friday.
So far, no injuries have been reported.
The winds are already beginning to cause tragedies! 2 burning houses in Fontana
