The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection was busy Friday tracking several fires across the state Friday, and the weather will provide little relief over the weekend.
Critical fire conditions are expected to persist as a threatening combination of strong Santa Ana winds, low humidity and dry vegetation will make it more difficult to contain wildfires in the region, Los Angeles County officials said Friday.
In San Diego County, the day-old, 2,080-acre Henderson Fire was burning at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and just north of the base in San Juan Capistrano was the 465-acre Norte Fire.
A fire in Malibu, known as the Bryson Fire, has prompted evacuations in the popular Southern California beach community. It spanned 146 acres and was 17% contained as of Friday evening.
Firefighters worked through the night to put out the fire, said Lindsey P. Horvath, Los Angeles County Third District supervisor.
“It’s still the red flag alert,” Horvath said at a news conference Friday morning, adding that such conditions are expected to last at least until Saturday evening. “Be vigilant and be prepared.”
Flames from the Henderson Fire at Camp Pendleton licked the north shoulder of Interstate 5, the main artery between the state’s two largest cities, Los Angeles and San Diego, on Friday and prompted the California Highway Patrol to close it.
Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner line between the two cities announced its track closure Friday and warned customers of “significant delays and/or cancellations.”
Neighborhoods near Calle Delgado in San Juan Capistrano were placed under mandatory evacuation orders as the separate but neighboring Norte Fire “continues to grow,” the Orange County Fire Department said Friday afternoon.
Four homes were “impacted,” authorities said. Federal forecasters said the Norte Fire thrived in temperatures of 96 degrees, with offshore winds reaching speeds of up to 30 mph.
The Bryson Fire broke out shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday on the rugged terrain of Encinal Canyon Road in the Santa Monica Mountains.
No deaths or loss or damage to structures were reported Friday morning. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said he estimated more than a hundred structures in the general area of the Bryson Fire were threatened.
At least one firefighter was slightly injured while working to contain the blaze Thursday evening. That person was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover, Marrone said.
Evacuation orders for the Encinal, Trancas and Zuna Canyon areas have been issued, meaning residents should leave immediately as they face an immediate threat to their lives and property due to the Bryson Fire.
More than 400 firefighters continue to work to contain the Bryson Fire alongside more than 75 “ground and air resources,” Marrone said.
Winds of up to 35 mph are expected to increase fire risks in the area, with gusts reaching 70 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
These conditions could potentially help start new fires or allow existing fires to spread quickly. The fire danger will be highest Friday in western Los Angeles County, Ventura County and southeast Santa Barbara County.
“As wildfires continue to burn faster and penetrate deeper into our built environment, I urge residents to continue monitoring high-risk weather conditions,” Marrone said.
Hours before the Bryson Fire started on Thursday, another wildfire broke out in the town of Azusa, located north of Los Angeles.
The Peak Fire burned 43 acres Thursday and briefly triggered evacuation orders for a neighborhood in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The progression of the fire was stopped Thursday evening after firefighters managed to contain 41% of it.
Gn usa
