The Castaic fire continues to burn in the Los Angeles area. Firefighters have closed off the lake and are working to get it contained. The fire has so far injured seven firefighters, but all of them were treated and released Thursday. Multiple agencies and Super Scooper helicopters from Canada are assisting with the firefighting effort, which involves dropping water and fire retardant on the fire.
Containment
status of Castaic fire
The fire in Castaic is now more than two-score and half-percent contained. The fire has already forced residents to evacuate their homes in triple-digit heat. Fire crews are still working to protect structures and determine whether there are hot spots. Meanwhile, the Castaic Animal Care Shelter is open for evacuees with pets.
A helicopter from Sky2 has been
flying over the Route Fire in Castaic. At last count, eight firefighters have
suffered heat-related injuries. Six of them have been transported to local
hospitals for treatment. Another Santa Clarita Valley fire station helped
evacuate the town's Northlake Elementary School. The firefighters are working
to contain the blaze, but more homes are being threatened.
As of Thursday, the Route Fire is at
two-thirds contained. Residents in the area are being asked to evacuate north
of the 5 Freeway and along Lake Hughes Road. The fire is at least
four-and-a-half acres in size, but firefighters are optimistic that they will
be able to contain it before it destroys more homes. A multi-agency effort has
brought in 512 firefighters, eight helicopters, and two planes to the area.
The fire has caused a heat wave that
has caused temperatures to spike. The firefighters are battling the blaze by
using water from nearby Lake Castaic to keep the flames under control. The
blaze has forced the evacuation of 94 homes and buildings. Meanwhile, there
have been several other fires burning across the state, forcing officials to
divert resources to battling them.
Number of
firefighters injured
A California fire has injured seven
firefighters, including two who suffered heat-related injuries. Five others are
in stable condition, although they were transported to hospitals. A heat wave
is predicted for Southern California until at least the end of the week.
Currently, temperatures are at more than 100 degrees. As a result, more
injuries are expected.
The fire has affected four thousand
five hundred acres of land in southern Los Angeles County. Firefighters are
still battling the flames. Some neighborhoods were evacuated, including
Paradise Ranch Mobile Estates south of Templin Highway and Upper Ridge Route
Road. One business, the Warped Paintball Park, was destroyed by the fire. A
photo taken from Sky2 shows the devastation. Meanwhile, traffic on the I-5
Freeway in the area has been suspended at Vista Del Lago and Lake Hughes roads.
The Route Fire is a fast-moving
brush fire that started near Castaic. It has now spread to more than 5,000
acres and has left eight firefighters injured. The fire's cause is still
unknown, but authorities report positive progress after overnight operations.
Fire crews used flame-retardant and water-dropping aircraft to help combat the
blaze.
The fire has destroyed six homes in
southern Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said at
least six firefighters were inmates, and two were transported by ambulance to a
hospital. One of the firefighters has been listed in critical condition, while
the others were released from the hospital.
Scope of
firefighting efforts
The fire's scope has narrowed to a
smaller area, and firefighters are now able to move closer to the fire's front
lines. A helicopter dropped water on the fire from above, but the wind pushed
the flames north and heavier fuels were contributing to the heavy smoke. The
fire's containment has increased to 27%, but crews will remain on the scene to
combat hot spots. In addition, the fire has forced the closure of Northlake
Hills Elementary School. Superintendent Steve Doyle hopes to have the school back
open after the Labor Day weekend.
The fire has now jumped the 5
Freeway, shutting down traffic in the area for nearly 10 hours. Residents in
Paradise Ranch Mobile Estates and in the Upper Ridge Route Road area have been
ordered to evacuate, as well. Sky2 has taken photos of the fire's path. Traffic
on the I-5 Freeway has been halted at Vista Del Lago and Lake Hughes roads.
The fire was first reported around
noon on Wednesday and is now mapped at 5,208 acres. As of Thursday morning,
250 firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and 115
firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service were battling the blaze. The fire is
also being battled by more than a dozen different water-dropping aircraft and
eight tankers.
Impact on air
quality
The smoke from the Route Fire in
Castaic, California, continues to linger over the southern California area,
affecting the air quality of the surrounding communities. The South Coast Air
Quality Management District has issued a smoke advisory that is expected to remain
in place through Friday evening. The fire has burned more than 5,200 acres and
is only about 12% contained.
The fire has affected the San Diego
area and parts of Los Angeles County. The air quality is considered poor in
some areas, and this is especially true in the Central Los Angeles region. The
air quality is expected to worsen, particularly in the afternoon. The recent
heat wave has also caused high levels of ozone.
Air quality in Santa Clarita is
currently at a moderate level of pollution, with forecasts calling for
moderate air quality to remain through Friday. In contrast, the air quality in
nearby Bakersfield is significantly worse and can be extremely dangerous for
people with respiratory conditions. However, residents in Santa Clarita can take
comfort in knowing that the fires burning in Central California pose no
immediate threat to them. Smoke drift may be an issue, but it is unlikely to
pose a health threat to Santa Clarita residents.
The fire in Castaic began Wednesday
afternoon and had spread to thousands of acres by evening. A heat wave that was
punishing in Southern California accompanied the fire. The governor declared a
state of emergency. The National Weather Service warned that the conditions
were conducive to wildfires and advised residents to turn up their air
conditioners.
Impact on
evacuees
The 650-acre Castaic fire is putting
a strain on the community and firefighters are facing tough challenges. The
fire, which has spread to homes and commercial buildings, is still active, with
crews battling the flames to prevent it from spreading. Fire crews are unable
to reach the forefront quickly enough, and their response has been hampered by
the proximity of an explosives disposal facility.
The city of Castaic is attempting to
evacuate residents from smoky conditions. The school's air conditioning systems
were shut down when the fire broke out, and smoke poured into the front office,
multi-purpose room, and multiple classrooms. The fire also forced the closure
of Castaic Lake, which Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation announced would
be temporary. During the evening, evacuation orders were lifted, and the Old
Ridge Route road was reopened to residents. Despite the lengthy evacuation
process, some people reported finding it difficult to leave the neighborhood
with their pets.
Interstate 5 near Castaic was closed
in both directions on Wednesday and Thursday night. At the time of the closure,
only two northbound lanes were open between Lake Hughes Road and Templin
Highway. Normally, there are four lanes in each direction.
Alternative
routes for evacuees
Residents of the affected areas have
been urged to find alternative routes to escape the blaze. A fast-moving fire
in eastern San Diego County broke out Tuesday afternoon. It had burned 4,200
acres by Wednesday night, destroying four structures and one home.
Fire officials closed Interstate 5
in the area on Tuesday to prevent the spread of the fire. The blaze swept
through the hills of the town of Castaic, burning several hundred acres in a
few hours. As the blaze raged, planes dropped water from nearby Castaic Lake to
help put out the flames. The temperatures reached 107 degrees, and wind gusts
reached 17 mph.
Fire crews continue to reinforce the
perimeter of the fire as the temperature rises. Hundreds of firefighters are
working to build a containment line around the fire and protect homes. However,
the excessively high temperatures are hampering firefighting efforts. A Super
Scooper water-dropping aircraft has joined the Castaic fire's attack.
A sweltering heat wave is likely to
worsen the situation. As the fire spreads, residents have been advised to
conserve electricity during peak hours to avoid straining the power grid. Those
living in areas prone to wildfires should monitor the Los Angeles County fire
department's website for updates.
