BLAZE BLACKENS ACREAGE NEAR I-5.Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, -- Scores of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County firefighters fought a fast-moving brush fire Saturday south of Gorman. Fanned by winds up to 40 mph, the blaze scorched scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. more than 2,000 acres within four hours as it quickly spread over the rugged, unpopulated terrain. "Fire has been burning in inaccessible areas; we're using helicopters to get into (there)," said Mike Brown, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department Not to be confused with Los Angeles Fire Department. The Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including the City of La . "Hand crews are fighting from the ground." Flames were spotted just before 2 p.m. on the southbound side of the Golden State Freeway The Golden State Freeway is a north-south freeway running through Kern County and Los Angeles County, California. Originally built as U.S. Highway 99, it was re-signed as Interstate 5 in 1964. , north of state Route 138, but winds quickly spread the blaze. Late Saturday, crews were still struggling to contain the fire near the unincorporated community of Gorman in northwestern Los Angeles County about 30 miles north of Santa Clarita. No structures were immediately threatened, but officials warned that if the wind changed direction, homes south of Quail Lake Road in Hungry Valley could be in danger. Record low rainfall has left the region parched parch v. parched, parch·ing, parch·es v.tr. 1. To make extremely dry, especially by exposure to heat: The midsummer sun parched the earth. and created critical fire conditions. On Friday, Caltrans announced plans to expedite brush- clearing projects on its land in areas of high fire danger. At least 30 county engines, eight hand crews and three water-dropping helicopters responded to Saturday's fire. The city of Los Angeles
The flames scorched acreage in the Angeles and Los Padres national forests, where a fire warning was issued earlier this week. U.S. Forest Service strike crews from both areas responded, Brown said. The freeway was not closed and traffic was moving normally, he said. Hand crews who hiked into the remote area planned to work through the night, hoping to cut a containment line around the flames. Authorities said the cause of the blaze is unknown but an investigation is under way. judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com (661) 257-5255 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) A fast-moving brush fire burns along Quail Lake Road near Interstate 5 on Saturday. The blaze blackened black·en v. black·ened, black·en·ing, black·ens v.tr. 1. To make black. 2. To sully or defame: a scandal that blackened the mayor's name. 3. about 2,000 acres in a remote area near Gorman. Fire hand crews labored late into the night trying to get a containment line around the blaze. No structures were immediately threatened, but homes south of Quail Lake Road might be in danger if the wind shifted, officials said. (2) A wall of flames moves toward the Interstate 5 Freeway near Gorman as a brush fire blackened some 2,000 acres on Saturday. Mike Meadows/Special to Daily News |
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