Two massive fires were burning out of control in the San Fernando Valley, devouring more than 10,000 acres and several dozen residences, forcing thousands to evacuate, closing freeways and causing at least two deaths.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in the burn area, and fire officials warned that the destructive Santa Ana winds are expected to worsen overnight.
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In Porter Ranch, a blaze consumed more than 5,000 acres, jumping the 118 Freeway in a rapid march to the southwest. The freeway was covered in smoke, and one motorist was killed in an accident authorities believe is linked to the fire. Fire officials warned residents in the western San Fernando Valley and eastern Ventura County areas that they could be ordered to evacuate at any moment.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman said firefighters are concerned that the blaze could burn to the 101 Freeway and perhaps to the Pacific Ocean.
At least 19 homes and other structures have burned, some near Topanga Canyon Boulevard near the 118 Freeway.
In Lake View Terrace, a 5,300-acre wildfire driven by intense Santa Ana winds destroyed about 30 mobile homes on Lopez Canyon Road in the foothills near Lake View Terrace today as more neighborhoods were being ordered evacuated and critical patients moved from a medical center.
Officials confirmed that at least one person, who appeared to be a homeless man with his dog, was killed by the fire. His dog also appeared to have been overcome by flames. Officials were checking reports that a second person may have died, but no details were immediately available.
Smaller fires also broke out in Newport Beach, Santa Clarita, San Bernardino, Santa Paula and Camp Pendleton.
Because of the Marek fire near Lake View Terrace, neighborhoods in Sylmar to the north of El Cariso Golf Course were evacuated, as well as those to the west near Veterans Memorial Park. Patients on ventilators from Olive View Medical Center were being moved to County-USC Medical Center, officials said.
The Marek fire had been 20% contained Sunday night, but the number was downgraded to 5% this morning as 65 mph winds sent flames shooting 200 feet into the air.
“As predicted, the Santa Ana winds did indeed come up, and it blew the fire out of our containment lines,” Freeman said.
Angeles National Forest spokesman Stanton Florea said the fire will likely burn for several days, but that firefighters were trying to get it tamped down ahead of the winds. If the fire spreads farther uphill, an area near some California condor nests could be threatened, and protecting those condors would be a priority, he said.
In Porter Ranch, fire officials ordered an evacuation of Brown Canyon Road and Oat Mountain Way near Chatsworth. Investigators were also looking into reports that several arson blazes had been started today long the Antelope Valley Freeway. At least one fire, which started at 10:21 a.m., had charred several acres before it was knocked down, according to a Los Angeles County fire spokesman.
Fire officials conducting a damage assessment of the Marek fire confirmed that at least 30 mobile homes were destroyed at the Sky Terrace Mobile Lodge. Authorities earlier had reported that 37 mobile homes and a garage were destroyed at Sky Terrace but later said they could not be sure that all the mobile homes and the garage were at that facility.
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