Results tagged “marekfire”

A slew of city and county agencies are coming together tonight to meet with residents of neighborhoods near the four major wildfires of the past two years (Sayre, Sessnon, Marek, and Station fires). Tonight is the first in a series of town halls about having a readiness and evacuation. When it rained briefly last week, there were mudslides. So it's safe to say, they are likely not to be the last. Maps will be given out where flood or debris flows might go. Tonight's 6 p.m. meeting is at Northeast Valley City Hall (17747 Foothill Boulevard, Tujunga 91402).

As we enter into a worsening fire season and summer recreational time, the Angeles National Forest today announced that the fire danger level will be raised from moderate to high this Sunday. It's the third highest danger level out of six, therefore there are no new campfire restrictions, but extra precaution is needed. The most Western portions of the San Bernardino Mountains within the National Forest, bordering Los Angeles neighborhoods, burned twice last year in the Marek and Sayre wildfires.

The U.S. Forest Service has come out saying the apparent cause of the Marek Fire is "vehicle related," the LA Times reports. "Although preliminary findings indicated the blaze was caused by a vehicle, no further information was available, said Sherry Rollman, a spokeswoman for the Angeles National Forest." Earlier reports indicated the fire started near a shooting range, which it may have, but easily led to gun firing theories.

As firefighters finish mopping up the now contained Marek Fire that consumed 4,824 acres, investigations continue into the cause. The Daily News finds that officials have found at least one lead that they are looking into: "Arson investigators have said they found something suspicious near the fire's ignition point -- a shooting range in Little Tujunga Canyon in the Angeles National Forest -- but details of their findings have not been publicly released." A cursory Google search shows that Angeles Shooting Range is located at 12651 Little Tujunga Canyon Rd.

Per unified command, the Los Angeles Fire Department announced tonight that the Marek Fire in the northeast valley that scorched 4,824 acres is now fully contained. In addition to one death, the latest and most likely final tally on losses and damages show that 41 homes were destroyed with eight more damaged. Two commercials buildings were lost andanother two were damaged. 22 buildings out buildings were also destroyed.

The 20-acre Sierra Fire near Corona and Yorba Linda in Orange County was fully contained this afternoon after a 20-hour fight. No injuries were reported and no structures were damaged. The Sesnon Fire that began near Porter Ranch on Monday has greatly subsided after burning 14,125. It is currently 70% contained. Over in the Northeast Valley, the Marek Fire is close to containment at 92% after scorching 4,824 acres.

Although a red flag warning is still in effect through Friday night, the fires that kept the city at bay earlier this week are calming down. The first big blaze, the Marek Fire in the Northeast Valley, is practically contained and controlled after it took 39 homes, 5 outbuildings and one life.

The La Jolla Fire, eponymously named after the canyon currently ablaze in Point Mugu State Park north of Malibu, has grown to 32 acres, but firefighters have 50% of the blaze contained, according to the Ventura County Fire Department's webpage. Downed power lines, most likely due to winds, are suspected to be the cause of the Sesnon Fire, according to "sources close to the investigation," per ABC7's Twitter. Additionally, all evacuations for the Marek Fire have been lifted.

After winds began to die down yesterday, the Sesnon Fire somewhat subsided last night as it burned in Simi Valley. Now 20% contained, the latest reported acreage consumed by the fire is 13,285. Around 2,300 firefighters are dedicated to the fire that began in Porter Ranch and spread to Granada Hills, Chatsworth and Simi Valley. "72 structures were damaged or destroyed, all in the Los Angeles City and County areas," the Ventura County Fire Department reports, who has lifted many of the evacuations on their side of the fire.

And this is why smoke related air quality and public health advisories are being issued everyday as the fires continue.

Smoke from the Sesnon and Marek fires continue to affect the San Fernando, Simi and Santa Clarita Valleys, including the immediate areas around fire scorched San Gabriel Mountains. However, the South Coast Air Quality Management District adds a new warning today with the changing winds: "As the winds diminish and shift, additional areas may experience smoke and ash, causing air quality to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher." Basically, continue to keep those windows shut and avoid vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion, they say. LA County's Dept. of Public Health recommends that "all individuals wanting to pursue any outdoor activities in areas where smoke, soot, or ash can be seen or there is an odor of smoke" should be avoided.

As of this morning, here's the latest on road closures and public transit routes affected by the Sesnon and Marek Fires (things can change, if they do, they should be updated at (800) 439-2909):

If you're traveling into, out of or through areas affected by the Sesnon or Marek Fire, here's the latest as of a 3:15 p.m. update sent out by the Mayor's Office. The more current info is updated at (800) 439-2909. Below are roadway and public transit updates:

Follow LAist's continuing coverage of the wildfires by clicking here

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As of 2:15 p.m., LA County Fire told LAist over the phone that little has updated in the last few hours regarding the two fires in the San Fernando Valley. The Sesnon Fire in the Northwest Valley still has no containment and the counted amount of acres stand at 9,872. However, they've added the Tapo Canyon neighborhood to the mandatory evacuation list. "We did it out precaution but there's no immediate threat," explained an official. "It's hard to predict winds." KCAL9's helicopter shows some flare up in the area. Flames threatening homes and causing mandatory evacuations in Granada Hills have been knocked down and residents are being let back into their neighborhoods.

Due to the Marek and Sesnon fires, the South Coast Air Quality Management District is sending out daily advisories. Today, they warn people in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley and portions of the San Gabriel Mountains near the fires. "Concentrations of fine particulate may reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category or higher in areas impacted by the fires," the advisory says. "As the winds diminish and shift, additional areas may experience smoke and ash, causing air quality to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or higher." As usual, they say that outdoor activity and even indoor activity should be avoided. Bad example: Fox 11 showed a man going for a run, jogging suit and all, in Porter Ranch this morning.

The City of Los Angeles has released these traffic advisories for the two fires.

As people are dealing with the effects of the local wildfires, there are also organizations making sure the four-legged victims are being looked after. Especially since there are so many horses in the fire-stricken neighborhoods.

"Winds are causing fire conditions to change by the hour, which is why it is so important that residents in the areas surrounding these wildfires heed warnings from public safety officials to evacuate," Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in preface to his emergency proclamation. "It's critical that everyone in the warning areas continue to be prepared-know what you're going to take and be ready to move very quickly if the evacuation order comes in your area. The state is coordinating with federal and local officials to ensure that firefighters have the resources they need, but with such a serious situation on our hands, we need residents to take every precaution to remain safe during this dangerous and difficult time."

With the air and traffic, this was bound to happen. From CSUN's press office: "Cal State Northridge officials have cancelled afternoon and evening classes for Monday, Oct. 13, because of concerns about air quality and freeway closures due to the fires in the northeast San Fernando Valley. University offices, the library and bookstore will remain open." For complete coverage, follow our "wildfire" tag by clicking here.

Officials at a press conference say that many of the fires igniting across the region, including the original Marek/Little Tujunga Fire, look suspicious and are still under investigation. Fire and police are asking for any suspicious activity to be reported to police (license plate numbers are especially helpful).

In a press conference shortly before noon, Mayor Villaraigosa announced that at least one person has died in the Marek/Little Tujunga Fire within city limits. An LAPD official said the victim appears to be a transient adult male in a makeshift wooden and cardboard structure. He was found near the intersection of Paxton and Foothill with a dog, presumed to be his pet. Additionally, Villaraigosa said "we haven't lost a structure in the city to wildfire in almost a decade." For complete coverage, follow our "wildfire" tag by clicking here.

Valley, southwest Riverside County, Orange County. A smoke advisory is in effect for the San Fernando Valley and portions of the San Gabriel Mountains near the Marek/Little Tujunga Fire. The AQMD suggests that vigorous outdoor and indoor activity should be avoided and people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should stay inside with windows and doors shut.

As the Marek/Little Tujunga Fire expanded to 3,200 acres last night, 1200 residents are now evacuated. The Los Angeles Fire Department launched this map showing the evacuated areas within city limits. Additionally the 210 Freeway is closed between the 118 and 5 freeways as well as four schools. A count of structures burned is unknown at this time, but one LA County Inspector told the LA Times that he could see buildings in a mobile home park and industrial structures burning from a distance.

Via LA County Fire | View Larger Map