FIRE HEADING BACK TO SCV OFFICIALS SAY WIND SHIFT WAS EXPECTED.

Byline: Nicholas Grudin and Heather MacDonald Staff Writers

STEVENSON RANCH - The relentless inferno torched Friday by an arsonist in Val Verde whipped back Tuesday toward the Santa Clarita Valley, threatening hundreds of homes and charring wilderness for miles around, but sparing a landmark oak tree named Old Glory and a century-old relic, the one-time oil town of Mentryville.

Forty-foot columns of flames charged over a ridge along a two-mile swath toward the sprawling Stevenson Ranch development, spurring evacuations as it charred the surrounding forestland. The first threat was to Pico Canyon, which served as a wind tunnel for the flame.

``Any time you get into a dead-end canyon, you get very intense heat. The next thing you know, all hell breaks loose,'' said Shasta County Firefighter Kevin McKinley, among the 1,000 firefighters from all over the Western states.

``The size of this thing is amazing,'' said Firefighter John Bagala from the Bay Area.

As evening fell, the fire's progress slowed, but continued toward homes. Although firefighters were confident that Stevenson Ranch residents were safe, they said the fire would likely cross the Golden State (5) Freeway overnight, moving south into the Newhall Pass.

Protective efforts started earlier in the week with firefighters lighting backfires to burn the brush in hopes the charred acreage would rob the fire of fuel. Still, firefighters had to battle to save the historic Mentryville.

``It's amazing how all this manpower saved this town,'' McKinley said.

Mentryville, once populated by about 100 people, was the nation's first commercially successful oil well and the longest-running one, operating from 1880 to 1992. The town's wood-framed mansion, barn and schoolhouse are focal points of the federally-designated historic site.

``There were so many people involved, they are doing a fantastic job. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed,'' said Duane Harte, president of Friends of Mentryville.

Also saved was an ancient oak that has been a symbol of the fight against growth in the area. Old Glory, protected for months by a tree-sitter in a futile effort to save it, withstood the fire and appeared safe as night fell.

The fire started Friday in Val Verde, about 5 miles northwest of Stevenson Ranch. A day later, pushed by high winds, flames swept across the wilderness toward the Ventura County cities of Simi Valley and Moorpark. On Monday, the northwestern San Fernando Valley was threatened, but all along a change in the wind was predicted and firefighters knew it would return toward Santa Clarita. By Tuesday night, it had consumed more than 100,000 acres.

Dry conditions in the surrounding brush paired with the fire's vortex effect made for a blaze the likes of which many veteran firefighters said they had never seen.

``There's guys who have worked their whole career and don't see one event like this,'' said Ventura County fire Capt. Mark Taillon.

As walls of flames descended, residents scrambled to pack their cars while anxiously keeping an eye on the hills above the community.

``We're taking everything that's not replaceable, like my old books,'' said resident Henry Charleson. ``I really didn't think that this could ever happen here, but I can't think about coming back to a burned-out home.''

On Riverwalk Drive, Robin Lichtenstein sobbed while holding a damp white towel over her mouth and nose as thick, black ash blanketed her lawn.

Lichtenstein and her husband packed enough clothes for two weeks, medicine and food for their dog into their white GMC Yukon.

``I've got my great-grandmother's watch,'' Lichtenstein said. ``But it's funny how things just don't look very important when you are worried about running for your life.''

Panicked parents headed to two local elementary schools to collect their children as the hills burned.

``We could see fire in the hills,'' Superintendent Marc Winger said. ``It's a very scary time for everybody.''

The schools are expected to remain open unless fire conditions change by early this morning, Winger said.

Meanwhile, an evacuation center was set up in the gymnasium at College of the Canyons in nearby Valencia.

Phil Paske, 52, left with his wife and two children, 4 and 11, for the college shelter - but not before his wife hiked past a barrier to their home to collect photos, valuable documents and computer backup tapes.

Resident Scott Parsons stood outside his home, silhouetted against the red-glowing sky as ash fell like snow.

``When it started coming, it was like a scene out of Dante's 'Inferno,''' Parsons said. ``Now it's a regular nuclear winter here.''

Staff writers Eugene Tong and Carol Rock contributed to this story.

Nicholas Grudin, [phone]

nicholas.grudin(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) A firefighter hoses down the roof of the supervisor's house Tuesday in historic Mentryville as flames can be seen in the background and in window reflections.

(2 -- color) Fishermen watch Tuesday as a SuperScooper dips into Castaic Lake for water to drop on the fire.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer

Map:

SIMI VALLEY/VAL VERDE FIRE PATH

SOURCES: USGS; ESRI, NOAA 

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