Wind Threatens To Whip Up L.A. Wildfire

(CBS/AP)  Fire officials prepared late Sunday for rapid growth of a wildfire blazing 20 miles north of downtown with the expected arrival of strong, dry wind gusts overnight.

"There's been no open flames for hours. It's just smoldering," Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Ron Haralson said Sunday night. "We want that to continue, but the winds are going to grow and we risk a flare-up."

The fire, which broke out at about 2 a.m. Sunday, burned through 2,066 acres of rugged terrain in the Angeles National Forest. It razed a house, a garage, several sheds and three mobile homes. More than 1,200 people were evacuated and advised not to return to their homes overnight.

CBS News station KCAL reported that the fire was largely halted by aggressive air and ground efforts on Sunday, leading officials to declare it 20 percent contained, but the threat of renewed wind gusts had them on edge over night.

The blaze started near a shooting range in the Angeles National Forest in Little Tujunga Canyon at 2 a.m., reported KCAL.

Haralson warned the situation could easily deteriorate as powerful Santa Ana winds of up to 60 mph were forecast to arrive from inland areas. Gusts could spread embers and ignite parched brush and chaparral as far as a mile away.

A "fire weather watch" was declared Sunday afternoon for all of Southern California except the deserts through Tuesday.

Some 1,000 people were deployed to fight the fire along with water-dumping helicopters and planes.

The blaze threatened neighborhoods around Kagel and Lopez canyons, forcing the evacuation of about 450 homes. Many displaced residents sought refuge at a shelter set up at nearby San Fernando High School. Horses and farm animals were evacuated to Hansen Dam.

"It burned right down to a couple of neighborhoods," said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Stanton Florea.

The fire was burning south of the Wildlife Waystation, an animal sanctuary and rehabilitation facility set on 160 acres. The nonprofit agency houses more than 400 animals, including lions, bears and deer. Officials loaded up the animals ready for evacuation in case the fire switched direction.

"They are packing them up in case they have to go," said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Dee Dechert.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

[gop_will_win]

God is sending fire to purify the land of sinners.

[easeup-2009]

I''m sure the blame will eventually find it''s way to Bush.

[vcofreason]

These fires have been burning for centuries. These fires are NECESSSARY to clear out an overabundance of brush and to thin the forests. Fighting them only exacerbates the problem. Read any reputable (read: NOT this site) journal about forest fires and their necessity and you will learn what I am talking about. It''s only when people encroached on these natural areas that the fires became a problem. It''s like crying about the house lost in the hurricane when it was up on stilts IN the water.

The hurricanes will come, the forest fires will rage, the tornadoes will ravage, it''s where YOU are that is the problem. Why do people constantly try to beat mother nature?

[wl7bzh]

Posted by SeeTheWay at 07:41 PM : Oct 12, 2008

Ya familiar with the expression "preachin to the choir"?

;

[seetheway]

The wrath of God...and this only the start of worse to come. But if you have Christ in your life, you have nothing to worry about!!

[wl7bzh]

Lemmie see,there has been drought, fire, occasional earthquakes, economic collapse, drug and alcohol addicted actors and actresses, food poisoning from fecal contaminated vegetables, failing health care system, illegal aliens, and perverted priests.

This is either wrath of God stuff or Schwarzenager has got to be the worst Governor in California history

[swingset4u]

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

It was a hot flame from a fire!

[swingset4u]

WARNING: Fire has been known, in the State of California, to cause cancer.