WINDS FUEL CANYON BRUSH FIRE 3,500 ACRES SCORCHED AS SANTA ANAS HIT VALLEYS.

Byline: Jason Kandel, Naush Boghossian and Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writers

SAUGUS - Erratic Santa Ana winds swept flames through Santa Clarita-area canyons Friday scorching at least 3,500 acres, and fire officials issued a high danger warning through noon today.

Hundreds of people were evacuated as the blaze threatened homes in Bouquet Canyon in Saugus, and residents fled for safety hauling their livestock from neighborhoods carved into canyons on the northern edge of Santa Clarita.

Flames damaged a movie ranch, threatened neighborhoods and sent up a huge, sooty cloud that could be seen for miles.

At a smaller brush fire in Tujunga, crews battled a blaze in the 12000 block of Little Tujunga Road during the afternoon. The fire charred 15 acres as high-desert winds kicked up 20 mph gusts.

``It was kind of scary at one point because the fire was close to our home. A fire has never been that close to my house before,'' said Vana Green, a High Sierra Trail resident who was ordered to leave in Santa Clarita.

Dry gusty winds, low humidity and temperatures that hit the 90s in the San Fernando Valley combined to fuel fires that officials said point to a tough season ahead because of dense, dry brush on hillsides.

The Interagency Fire Forecast and Warning Unit in Riverside issues the red flag when the humidity levels drop below 15 percent and when winds blow faster than 25 mph.

Friday's low humidity levels and windy conditions kicked off the warning for mountain areas and in and below canyons through noon today.

Van Nuys reached 91 degrees Friday, with gusts up to 27 mph. Temperatures in the Santa Clarita Valleys hovered in the 80s, with winds gusting to 20 mph.

``These are ingredients that help spread fires,'' said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. ``The ground is already dry to begin with. The air is drying up, and there's lots of gusts.''

The Tujunga blaze was fully contained by 7 p.m. after having burned 15 acres, officials said.

The Santa Clarita fire was 70 percent contained by evening, and there were no reports of injuries or homes destroyed.

One man with a 60-acre ranch said his five classic Pontiacs were in flames. A neighbor was distraught - flames, she said, were surrounding her dog kennel.

On Haskell Canyon Road, the fire engulfed a large part of a movie set at the Rene Veluzat Motion Picture Ranch, destroying buildings, vehicles, boats, motorcycles, trailers and storage bins.

Flames broke out about 9 a.m. in the Angeles National Forest on Bouquet Canyon Road, 2 1/2 miles north of Vasquez Canyon Road. Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Brian Jordan said the cause was unknown, but called it suspicious.

About 1,000 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service, Los Angeles County, the city of Los Angeles, Ventura County and other cities teamed to battle the flames.

The assault started from the air with 10 water-dropping helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, county and Forest Service officials said.

``We're trying to keep it in check with the aircraft, but it's moving fast with these winds,'' said Jo Hall, a Forest Service spokeswoman.

With dry brush, no humidity, warm temperatures and high winds the flames moved much faster than usual, Jordan said.

Along with a high fire danger today, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for Santa Clarita until this afternoon. Winds are expected to gust up to 35 mph, raising more concern among firefighters who plan to call in more crews today.

Friday's winds split the fire in two by afternoon, one moving away from homes and the other toward a housing tract and firefighters' command post. By 5:30 p.m., forest officials said the fire was 40 percent contained.

``We've had 50-foot walls of fire burning uphill,'' Jordan said.

As flames shifted their way, two county youth probation camps on Bouquet Canyon Road, housing a total of 158 teen inmates prepared to evacuate to a camp in Lancaster, said Ed Anhalt, a camp director.

Further up the canyon, Charleen Auerbach raced to the Crescent Canyon Equestrian Center, where she boards her horse, and helped evacuate hers and 20 others'. Volunteers drove trailers to the center, but there weren't enough for all of the horses, so Auerbach and others helped walk them about a mile to safety.

She spoke softly to the panicked animals, but firmly kept them in check as they reared and whinnied when firetrucks roared by, their sirens screaming.

``They're panicking because of the noise, the smoke. They go ballistic,'' she said. ``My arm is sore because you have to yank them.''

Nearby, the staff at the Los Angeles Retarded Citizens Ranch evacuated 30 clients to Santa Clarita Central Park to wait out the fire, which started nearby and later came back their way, again threatening the surrounding ranch homes.

The American Red Cross served about 100 evacuees at a shelter set up at Hart High School.

In Tujunga, more than 85 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and the Los Angeles County and city fire departments battled a 15-acre blaze for more than two hours in rugged, heavy wild land.

Investigators sifted through the charred brush seeking clues to the cause. Officials said they were pleased they were able to douse the fire before it blew out of control.

``It was good we got it out quick,'' said LACFD Inspector Mike Brown. ``It's a heavily populated area. These Santa Ana winds are pretty hot and humid. It makes for perilous conditions out there.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, map

Photo:

(1 -- color) A camp crew member sets a back fire to help protect homes along Rock Canyon Road in Saugus, where Santa Ana winds spread Friday's blaze.

(2) Firefighters protect a back yard as Friday's blaze nears homes along North Haskell Canyon Road in Saugus.

Dyer/Special to the Daily News

Map:

3,500-acre Bouquet Canyon fire