Los Angeles News

Sesnon Fire Now 90 Percent Contained

Destructive Blaze Sparked By Electrical Distribution Line

PORTER RANCH (AP) ― The 14,375-acre Sesnon fire was about 90 percent contained Thursday, and officials hoped for full containment by Saturday, Cal Fire announced.

Authorities say a downed power line sparked the wildfire that destroyed 15 homes and 47 outbuildings and damaged another six other homes.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department says investigators determined the fire which began above Porter Ranch Monday was ignited when an electrical distribution line fell onto dry brush in a ravine. The downed line was privately owned, but fire officials have not identified the owner.

More than 2,800 firefighters were battling the blaze on the ground and in the air, and the firefighting effort has cost about $7.9 million so far, according to Cal Fire.

At the east end of the San Fernando Valley, the 4,824-acre Marek fire is almost completely contained.

Wednesday was the first time residents of the San Fernando Valley could breathe air free of smoke and ash under brilliant blue skies.

Gone were the convulsive winds that at times reached gale force. Nowhere could Los Angeles police be found using bullhorns to order residents out of homes and away from deadly fires that have blackened more than 34 square miles and destroyed more than 50 homes.

The last evacuation orders for two big fire areas at opposite ends of the valley were lifted, though some locations were open just to residents. Some of those who returned found only rubble.

"I've been crying for days," said Tanya Valdivia, 32, as she searched what was left of her mobile home. "I guess it's just a natural thing, but when you've lost everything, you're going to be upset."

The winds that helped spread the flames were slack Wednesday, though temperatures were rising and the largest fire, which has consumed more than 20 square miles near Porter Ranch. The blaze, dubbed the Sesnon Fire, is now 70 percent contained. Incident commander Scott Poster said there were places where no fire lines had been established, "so if the wind hits it, it could move."

Helicopters and air tankers were still attacking the flames. Fire officials said there were about 3,000 homes in the vicinity, and though some areas of the fire appeared to be extinguished, firefighters were digging into debris to make sure nothing was still burning.

With humidity low, the National Weather Service extended warnings of risky fire conditions from Wednesday evening through Friday in many areas along the Southern California coast and east of Los Angeles.

The fires forced thousands of people to evacuate and were blamed for two deaths. One man died in the flames, and a motorist was killed in a crash as a fire neared a freeway.

Ten miles away, there was major progress against Los Angeles' other big wildfire. A 7 1/2-square-mile fire in the northeastern San Fernando Valley was 90 percent contained, and some evacuees were allowed to go home.

Thirty-eight mobile homes and a house were destroyed there.

Valdivia and her husband got out of their home early Sunday, taking their wedding photos and two dogs, Chico and Oreo. After returning, one of the few items she could find was a ceramic bride figure -- now headless -- from the top of her wedding cake.

"This was all I ever had," she said. "This was my first home, and God knows when I'll be able to afford another one."

Southwest of the San Fernando Valley fires in Ventura County, a blaze erupted in Point Mugu State Park's La Jolla Canyon and grew to 20 acres just above Pacific Coast Highway. A 6-square-mile fire at the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton in San Diego County was 80 percent surrounded.

The outbreak of fires followed the weekend arrival of the first significant Santa Ana winds of the fall. The notorious Santa Anas usually sweep in between October and February as cold, dry air descending over the Great Basin flows toward Southern California and squeezes through mountain passes and canyons.

Despite fading winds, low humidity levels were expected to persist for the next few days, prompting the National Weather Service to extend a red flag warning until 10 p.m. Friday in mountain, forest and valley areas of Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)