Oct 13, 2008 1:41 am US/Pacific
Officials Investigate Possible Arson In Marek Fire
SUNLAND
An arson investigation was under way Monday into the cause of a wildfire in the Angeles National Forest north of Sunland.
Firefighters were trying to contain the blaze before it could be fanned by Santa Ana winds, fire officials said.
The fire started about 2 a.m. Sunday near a shooting range in Little Tujunga Canyon, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
It rapidly grew to around 2,066 acres and was only 20 percent contained, said James Barnes of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Arson investigators told reporters at the scene they found something suspicious near the ignition point, but did not provide further details.
About 1,200 residents from about 450 homes in and around Lopez and Kagel canyons were ordered out of the area, along with horses and livestock, which were taken to an equestrian center at Hansen Dam.
Some evacuees were expected to stay at San Fernando High School overnight.
A county fire official said it was unclear when residents would be allowed back into their homes.
A house and garage, three sheds and three motor homes were destroyed by blowing embers carried by sustained winds of 15-20 mph, and a second home was damaged, according to county fire officials.
But more than 100 homes in the canyon bottoms were saved, firefighters said.
Six helicopters and four air tankers dropped fire retardant on the fire, helping the 1,000 city and county firefighters working with the Forest Service to halt the spread of the blaze, he said.
The steep, rocky terrain made air support even more critical to firefighting efforts, and backfires were set to deprive the blaze of fuel.
Wind gusts above 50 mph in the rugged canyons east of the San Fernando Valley spread the flames west towards ranches and houses in three heavily forested canyons, then along the Foothill 210 Freeway.
Due to the winds, especially in the Kagel Canyon area, county fire officials expect to keep resources on the ground throughout the night, said county fire Inspector Ron Haralson.
Air crews are to resume their battle at sunrise, although if the winds get above 45 mph, they could be grounded, fire officials said.
The National Weather Service warned that a major Santa Ana wind event is moving into the area, and that wind gusts of 60 mph are expected in mountains and canyons, and 45 mph in other areas.
Angeles National Forest spokesman Stanton Florea said the fire will likely burn for several days, but that firefighters were trying to get it tamped down ahead of the winds.
If the fire spreads farther uphill, an area near some California condor nests could be threatened, and protecting those condors would be a priority, he
said.
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