Hundreds Flee Wind-Driven Fire

A wind-swept fire carved a blackened swath through the foothills above Santa Clarita Friday, threatening scores of homes, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of residents and burning a movie set.

Firefighters contended with warm, dry Santa Ana winds that rattled down canyons of the San Gabriel Mountains at speeds up to 30 mph, whipping the blaze into one of the season’s largest brush fires.

More than 3,000 acres had been charred by nightfall, despite the efforts of about 1,000 firefighters on the ground and at least 12 water-dropping aircraft overhead. Officials said Friday that it was not yet known what ignited the fire.

The blaze, which began about 8 a.m. in the rugged back country about four miles northeast of Santa Clarita, quickly spread out of control, draping the horizon in smoke.

As 50-foot flames streaked into the soot-black sky, sheriff’s deputies ordered the evacuation of several dozen homes in the upper reaches of Haskell Canyon by early afternoon.

Other residents left on their own as the fire headed west, toward densely populated Seco Canyon. Then the wind switched directions, driving the fire eastward and forcing people from their homes in parts of Bouquet Canyon.

Some local roads were crowded by long caravans of cars, as residents grabbed their suitcases, piled into vehicles and drove south.

One woman had barely loaded her daughter, dog and family photographs into her van when a fireball erupted beside her backyard on Kathleen Avenue.

“I didn’t even take my jewelry,” Lili Yoohanna said. “There wasn’t time.”

Jeanne LaValle dashed through her Rock Canyon Drive house, stuffing clothing into a backpack. “I’m really in a panic right now,” she said.

The fire devoured part of the Veluzat Motion Picture Ranch in Bouquet Canyon, burning a hotel on its Mexican town set, said Sue Veluzat, whose husband co-owns the ranch.

The sets on the site, where parts of the movies “Dante’s Peak” and “Extreme Prejudice” were filmed, include two churches, an Army camp, barns and cabins.

The flames threatened Mountainview Elementary School, but most students were on fall break. Seven children attending a day care program were taken to another school, said Saugus Union School District Supt. Judy Fish.

Several power lines were damaged. Electricity was rerouted to other lines without causing blackouts, said Darlene Battle, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Southern California Edison lines also were damaged.

Late Friday, the fire was 50% contained and moving north into the Angeles National Forest. Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Mike Brown said that winds were expected to continue at least until this afternoon. “We’re going to be here as long as it takes,” he said. “And that could be two or three days.”

At least 150 people gathered at an evacuation center at a park on Bouquet Canyon Road during the day. The American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles moved the evacuees to William S. Hart High School in Newhall before sundown.

Other residents remained in their homes, although many of them, such as Dave Lyznick, had their cars packed and ready.

As his wife and four children milled around on the lawn, Lyznick scrambled onto his wooden roof with a hose and doused the house.

“I think since we’ve got the wood shake, we’re a little more concerned than the neighbors,” Lyznick said.

Neighbors packed antique chairs, books, computers and even American flags into their cars and then drifted into the street to watch the advancing flames.

“I’m just fed up,” said Chris Venn as he left his house with his cat. “We have enough other problems in the world without the town burning down.”

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