[ Hazards & Disasters ] [ Natural Events ]
[ Wildland Fires ] [ Wildland Fires in Southern California/ Los Angeles ]
[ Wildland Fires in Southern California/ Los Angeles Index ]

TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 28th.

  • More than 11,000 firefighters are battling 14 wildfires in Southern California utilizing 81 airplanes and helicopters from at least six states

  • 18 people dead

  • 2,000 homes destroyed

  • Tens of thousands of people evacuated and in shelters

  • Health officials warned residents to stay indoors as acrid smoke and ash rained down on the entire region

  • At least 550,000 acres (220,000 hectares or 815 square miles) burnt

  • Losses (infrastructure, relief, firefighting efforts, etc.) expected to near two billion dollars

  • State of emergency declared in the following five counties

    o Los Angeles
    o Riverside
    o San Bernardino
    o San Diego
    o Ventura


Los Angeles County:

Simi Valley Fire

  • Started Saturday, October 25th. ; cause under investigation

  • 95,000 acres burned

  • 25 percent contained

  • 902 personnel

  • 2,000 homes threatened

  • 16 homes destroyed, 8 damaged, 64 outbuildings destroyed

  • Evacuations still in effect for portions of Chatsworth south of the 118 Freeway.

  • Suppression cost: $1.1 million.

Fires on the outskirts of Los Angeles County merged to create the Simi Valley fire late Sunday northwest of the City of Los Angeles in Ventura County.

The Simi Valley Fire moved to Santa Clarita and was headed toward the Stevenson Ranch. Voluntary evacuations were in place.

Firefighters have had some success in battling the Simi Valley fire. They were able to save hundreds of homes in the Chatsworth section of Los Angeles. The fire had been burning in the Santa Susana Mountains, which separate Los Angeles from Simi Valley. A spokesman for the State Forestry Department said every one of the homes in the area had been saved.

The Simi Valley Unified School District planned to be open as usual on Wednesday.

Mandatory evacuations were in place on Monday in two parts of the Chatsworth area in Los Angeles. Voluntary evacuations in Box Canyon and Brown Canyon and other areas of Simi Valley were in effect.

No formal evacuations in place for the Porter Ranch area Tuesday morning.

The battle against the Simi Valley fire reached a fevered pitch Monday afternoon as a gigantic wall of flame headed for homes in Rocky Creek Canyon. Residents of the exclusive community known as Indian Estates, where homes are valued at over $1 million, were evacuated as quickly as possible. Firefighters were able to save all the homes in the community.

Fire officials said the Simi Valley fire could, in a worst-case scenario, spread across Los Angeles County and reach Malibu and the Pacific Ocean.

San Bernardino County:

  • Mandatory evacuation of up to 50,000 people from mountain towns

  • Fire has already consumed up to 33,200 hectares (83,000 acres) of forest land

  • Four elderly men died of heart-attacks and stress-related conditions brought on by the fires


San Diego County:

  • Three major fires

  • Consumed more than 120,000 hectares (300,000 acres)

  • Twelve people died, most of them burned to death after waiting too long to flee the fast-moving flames.




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