Southern California brush fire drives thousands from their homes
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. -- A fast-moving brush fire north of Los Angeles has sent about 2,000 people fleeing from their homes, CBS Los Angeles affiliate reported.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department says the blaze broke out in the foothill community of Stevenson Ranch Saturday afternoon near Interstate 5 and Calgrove Boulevard.
Dubbed the Sage Fire, it quickly chewed through 800 acres of dense, dry brush amid high temperatures and winds gusting up to 25 mph. By 8 p.m., it was 15 percent contained.
More than 200 firefighters aided by water-dropping aircraft focused on creating a perimeter around homes that were threatened. Aerial photos showed the flames came to the property line of a ridgetop home that was covered in fire retardant.
One inmate firefighter received a minor injury, according to county authorities, according to CBS Los Angeles.
About 700 homes were evacuated. No structures were damaged as of late Saturday.
Fire Inspector Gustavo Medina said the fire was burning close to Interstate 5, the main artery connecting Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley.
Captain Roland Strewell of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said "the fire is creating its own climate," as crews battled warm winds in the canyons, CBS Los Angeles reported.