Los Angeles: Fire Forces Evacuations, Burns Homes in Sylmar Area

FOX News ^ | 15 November 2008

[bd476]

Fire Forces Evacuations, Burns Homes in Sylmar Area

Sayre Fire is near the 210 Freeway in Northern Los Angeles.

A dangerous, fast-moving brush fire in the Sylmar section of the San Fernando Valley, spread by gusting 50 mph winds has now burned at least five homes and is threatening several more, City Fire Department spokesperson Melissa Kelly said today.

So far there are no reports of injuries to residents or fire personnel, said Kelly.

The blaze ignited about 10:30 p.m. in the dry, brushy hills above 13000 W. Sayre Street near Shablow Ave, and has so far consumed more than 500 acres.

[Deo volente]

Idiot L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa holding press conference now assuring people he will still make it, in spite of the fire, to the anti-Proposition 8 rally later today!

What a doofus! He just had to slip that in during a raging firestorm that could end up destroying countless homes during the next few hours.

[KylaStarr]

Thank you so much for all of the information on this fire.

I hadn’t even heard about it until a little blurb on our local SD news. So I knew to come here to find out the latest.

Praying for all of us in SoCal as the Santa Ana winds are kicking into overdrive today.

[kingu]

Is it really bad of me to hope that Hussien Obama takes him and a whole lot of others to Washington so that maybe, possibly, we might get our city back under control? Yeah, probably is. Smoke from the Sylmar fire is now visible from the Pomona valley, and unlike a lot of fires in SoCal, probably the most dense and ground hugging smoke I've seen.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Its blowing hard in Ventura County. These are bad times for wild fires in South California. I have friends who lost home in Santa Barbara.

[KylaStarr]

jihadi scum will resort to anything at anytime, evil is evil.

That being said, yes, I recall many of their propaganda broadcasts/videos where they mention using widespread arson in different locations.

It also seems that a couple of the wildfires up around the Palm Springs area, app. 2 years ago, had very suspicious origins and were chatted about as dry runs.

I’m sure the rest of the group can help out with this : )

[ErnBatavia]

An older couple that wifey worked with lives (lived, I guess) in that Glenoaks/Foothill mobile park.....right near the front gate. Doesn't look good at all for them, going by the TV.

They got hammered and knocked off foundation during the Northridge quake, and it took forever to get them healed; now this. I'm sure that park will never rebuild - they've had too many fire scares over the years.

[null and void]

Mayor: Fire is threatening entire Los Angeles power supply.

Not surprised. MAJOR substation in Sylmar. It was knocked out during the Sylmar quake ('71?)

[null and void]

What a doofus! He just had to slip that in during a raging firestorm that could end up destroying countless homes during the next few hours.

Makes sense, totally consistent.

Fires destroy houses, Prop 8 destroys...

[rwfromkansas]

Fires in California. Whoop.

Since when are there not fires out there?

I love how the news act like it is a big deal, but it is just typical California burning.

[RoseofTexas]

Didn’t I read somewhere that Al-Qaeda was going to attack the US again by setting Forrest fires or something like that? OR was I dreaming?! I thought I read an article here somewhere. Hmmmm those fires sound very suspicious though! On another note, didn’t I hear ONE of Oprah’s home burned down too?

[rwfromkansas]

Burned 100 acres but only three houses.

Until these fires actually hit a populated area, I don’t really consider California fires news anymore....

[kingu]

The Sylmar fire is in a moderately densely populated area, more than 70 homes are burned at this time, though that number will be rising as the 70 wouldn't even account for the mobile home park firefighters had to abandon to the flames, and has reached into areas that are not normally considered fire risks, leaping the 210 and the 5 freeways.

This link gives a pretty detailed map of the present evacuation area, though firefighters have expressed the desire that anyone living within ten blocks of it should get out of the way, or be ready to be evacuated at a moment's notice.

[ladyvet]

Yes, they did. I certainly don't know how this one started but it is in their play book.

[Deo volente]

Until these fires actually hit a populated area, I don’t really consider California fires news anymore....

Well, since you're from Kansas, I'll give you a break, but where have you been???
Many of these fires hit populated areas very hard, destroying hundreds of homes. Do you remember the awful fires of October, 2003 that burned through vast populated areas of San Diego and Riverside County? How about the Laguna Beach firestorm of 1993, that burned almost 400 homes to the ground? Or the Malibu fires of 1993 and 1996?

How about just two days ago, when 100 luxury homes were destroyed near Santa Barbara? I could go on and on...

Let me tell you, this is BIG news out here in Los Angeles. Thousands of people are wondering whether their homes will still be there when they finally get to leave the evacuation centers.

[dragnet2]

What's that about Chickens and Roosting ?

Next time Texas and the gulf coast gets blown into Oklahoma by a massive super hurricane, or when the floods return to the midwest, everyone in California will be sure to yuk it up at you classless slackjawed morons...

The reality?

That will never happen, and we'll wish you all the very best, and likely send in help, equipment and assistance.

Gezzz..

[ladyvet]

Since when are there not fires out there? I'm in Nevada and my husband and I know it's spring when the sage starts burning.

[trisham]

Wow. Total devastation in some areas.

[Boardwalk]

New video shows these fires aren’t easing up. The fire watch all the way to San Diego.

[trisham]

Incredible. The wind is extremely strong.

[Falconspeed]

Thank for the excellent Myfoxla link. The video is not good. Looks like a horrible fire.