CANYON BLAZE COMES CLOSE TO RANCHES.Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Daily News Staff Writer A 50-acre brush fire in Bouquet Canyon came dangerously close to a row of ranches Friday and threatened isolated homes overlooking the canyon. A much smaller fire down the canyon in a densely populated pop·u·late tr.v. pop·u·lat·ed, pop·u·lat·ing, pop·u·lates 1. To supply with inhabitants, as by colonization; people. 2. area within the 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, city limits was easily doused before causing serious damage. Arson was suspected in the later fire, and investigators were en route. The larger blaze was reported about 12:45 p.m. along Bouquet Canyon Road near Shadow Valley Road, just north of the Saugus city boundary. Bouquet, a popular alternate route An official alternate route is a bannered highway that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. Originally, the term for these routes was "optional"; but in 1959, the designation became alternate. between the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. , was closed for about three hours to through traffic. The fire began as horseback riders from ranches in the area were riding the hilly trails, said Jill Grubbs, who was working at the Renegade Canyon Ranch Canyon Ranch is a brand associated with several properties, communities, resorts, and spas. Properties & communities
The riders returned, and a ranch worker who spotted smoldering smol·der also smoul·der intr.v. smol·dered, smol·der·ing, smol·ders 1. To burn with little smoke and no flame. 2. manure and debris on the trails loaded it in the back of his car, thinking it was a spontaneous spot fire, and moved it out of the brush. ``But then he turned around, and the whole hillside was on fire,'' said Carolyn Wehrle, a horse lover from Tick Canyon who came by the Renegade Canyon Ranch to help. About 180 firefighters fought the flames on the ground and from four helicopters and three planes. Crews surrounded isolated homes in the canyon to protect them. There were no reports of injuries or damage to structures. As flames raced along the hillsides behind the ranch and the smell of smoke filled the air, workers aided by passers-by calmed the horses and wet their tails to protect them from the fire. The horses circled in corals, skittish skit·tish adj. 1. Moving quickly and lightly; lively. 2. Restlessly active or nervous; restive. 3. Undependably variable; mercurial or fickle. 4. Shy; bashful. from the smell of smoke and the sounds of aircraft overhead. Grubbs said the Renegade Ranch was prepared to evacuate the animals, but that proved unnecessary. Firefighters could not immediately tell the cause of the fire but noted it is possible for horse manure to spontaneously ignite in very hot humid weather such as Friday's. Jeff Schrage was among those who stopped to help. ``They're afraid,'' he said of the horses. ``They need some love. They need to know you'll take care of them.'' More help came from Michael Johnson Michael Johnson or Mike Johnson may refer to:
|
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion