Porter Ranch: Saddleridge Fire Explodes to 4,700+Acres, Prompts Widespread Evacuations
10.10.2019 | 9:00 PM | PORTER RANCH – The Saddleridge fire exploded to over 4,700 acres and prompted widespread evacuations of more than 100,000 people, Friday morning.
The fire started along the westbound I-210 Freeway near Yarnell Street and Saddle Ridge Road in the Sylmar area around 9:00 PM.
Due to strong Santa Ana winds embers from the fire quickly spread, engulfing more than 4,700 acres as of 7:30 AM with no containment reported.
Authorities said the fire was moving at a rate of about 800 acres per hour and that the area burned was expected to increase as the day progressed.
Over 1,000 firefighters from multiple agencies and along with resources including water-dropping aircraft were on scene battling the blaze.
The fire prompted evacuations to approximately 100,000 residents including all of Porter Ranch and areas of Granada Hills as well as the closure of numerous area freeways.
About 330 juveniles and staff from the Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall were being relocated due to the fire. The Sylmar Juvenile Courthouse at that same location was also shuttered. Individuals with cases involving statutory deadlines were instructed to report to the Eastlake Juvenile Courthouse at 1601 Eastlake Avenue in Los Angeles.
All Los Angeles Unified School District schools in the area had cancelled classes along with all schools in the Castaic Unified and Newhall school districts.
Higher education institutions including Cal State Northridge, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles Mission College and Los Angeles Valley College were all closed.
Evacuation centers at the Sylmar Recreation Center, 13109 Borden Avenue in Sylmar; the Mason Recreation, 10500 Mason Avenue in Chatsworth; and, the Granada Hills Recreation Center, 16730 Chatsworth Street in Chatsworth, were all open for residents and small pets under evacuation.
Large animals were being accepted at the Hansen Dam Recreation, 11770 Foothill Boulevard in Lake View Terrace; the West Valley Animal Shelter, 20655 Plummer Street in Chatsworth; and, Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills.
Multiple area freeways including stretches of the I-5, SR-118, I-210, I-405, and SR-14 freeways were closed until further notice to accommodate firefighting efforts.
Approximately 25 structures had been damaged, if not destroyed, and one person was dead from a cardiac related event.
It was unclear if any other injuries or deaths had been reported.
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