EFFORTS PAY OFF IN SANTA CLARITA GROUND, AIR CREWS KEEP FLAMES AWAY FROM HOMES.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

Aided by fire-dropping helicopters, fire crews battled a relentless blaze Wednesday that shot walls of flame within a few feet of homes in the Santa Clarita Valley, sent a choking haze of smoke and ash across miles, and forced the closure of a 12-mile stretch of Interstate 5.

Again no houses were damaged, though flames pushed by a sudden shift in the wind burned up to back yards of Sunset Pointe homes in Stevenson Ranch and residents ran for shelter.

Firefighters from 11 strike teams staged a dramatic defense of the upscale housing tract, while nine helicopters and six air tankers dove into the smoke and flames.

``Those guys in the helicopter are something,'' said resident Tom Murphy as he watched the pilots drop water on a wall of fire advancing toward his house on Sagecrest Circle. ``I pray for them; I pray for all of us.''

By Wednesday, more than 3,000 firefighters had battled to control two brush fires raging along a 30-mile front between Fillmore and Santa Clarita - the Simi Valley Fire blackening more than 105,000 acres and the Piru Fire consuming 55,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest.

They planned overnight controlled burns to cut back fuel and stop the fire from spreading more today.

The National Weather Service forecast a 40 percent chance of rain Friday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with the possibility of up to a quarter-inch of precipitation.

In Los Angeles, city and fire officials cautiously eyed the fire in Santa Clarita while expressing relief that it had not endangered the San Fernando Valley.

``Right now, we have no indication that homes are going to be threatened in the northwest San Fernando Valley,'' Mayor James Hahn said at a City Hall briefing.

Earlier this week, the Simi Valley Fire had jumped over Rocky Peak to encroach on million-dollar homes in Porter Ranch. But it was halted by firefighters who put up a tough defense along the Ronald Reagan Freeway, which was reopened to all traffic Wednesday.

Local streets in the Porter Ranch area that had been closed were also reopened. The Red Cross closed a shelter it had established in the Valley.

So far, Los Angeles has spent $2 million fighting the fire, most of which is expected to be reimbursed by the state and federal governments. A spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department said local governments there had spent $3 million, with estimates that the cost could run as high as $8 million.

The county has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of arsonists suspected of starting a number of Southern California fires. Anyone with information should call [phone].

Throughout Wednesday, the Santa Clarita Valley was cloaked in a thick blanket of tawny smoke and swirling ash. Dr. Jonathon Fielding, chief health officer for Los Angeles County, issued another health alert warning residents to avoid outdoor activities.

In the morning, fire officials thought they had the upper hand on the fire, which had swooped down Pico Canyon to threaten the northwest side of Stevenson Ranch. By noon, the winds kicked up and sent flames to the western edge of Interstate 5.

Adding to the confusion, a 3.6 magnitude earthquake centered in Simi Valley jolted residents around the fire line.

The fire was 35 percent contained Wednesday, up from 25 percent the day before. Full containment is expected by Tuesday, officials said.

Nearly 1,400 firefighters are battling the blaze. Initial reports show that 16 homes and 64 outbuildings have been destroyed, and eight additional homes damaged.

Some 1,465 firefighters have battled the Piru Fire, costing $3 million. The fire has injured 20 people and destroyed eight structures, including three homes.

Crews from Southern California Edison were busy replacing 377 power poles charred in the fire and repairing 55 downed power lines in Moorpark, Simi Valley and the Santa Clara River Valley, spokesman Ernie Villegas said.

Of the 136,000 customers whose service was disrupted by the fire, 743 were still without power Wednesday, Villegas said. Service was expected to be restored to most homes and businesses within 24 to 72 hours, but customers in remote areas might have to wait several weeks for electricity to be restored, he said.

``We've had crews working around the clock,'' Villegas said. ``It seems like we're going from one obstacle to another.''

Staff Writers Andrea Cavanaugh, Carol Rock and Harrison Sheppard contributed to this report.

Dana Bartholomew, [phone]

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) Firefighters watch a county helicopter drop a load of water along Sagecrest Circle in Stevenson Ranch, where no homes were lost to wildfires Wednesday.

(2 -- color) Flames inch toward back yards in Stevenson Ranch on Wednesday, but firefighters from 11 strike teams along with nine helicopters and six air tankers staged a dramatic defense of the upscale housing tract.

(3 -- color) Breanna Reardon, 5, looks at the charred hills surrounding her Greensbrier Drive home Wednesday. Her family had evacuated their house Tuesday, but returned Wednesday to find it safe.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer

Map:

SIMI VALLEY/VAL VERDE/STEVENSON RANCH FIRES UPDATE

SOURCES: USGS; ESRI, NOAA 

Warren Huskey/Staff Artist