Los Angeles News

PORTER RANCH Strong winds kicked up the 9,872-acre Sesnon fire Tuesday morning, prompting authorities to evacuate more residents in Porter Ranch area.

The new evacuation orders affected homes on Vista Grande Way and the Edelston Park area, according to area residents.

Hundreds of firefighters were attacking the blaze from the ground and the air to keep it from spreading across the 101 Freeway southward toward the ocean or westward into Ventura County.

The fire, which broke out late Monday morning, crossed the 118 Freeway in the afternoon, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.

One person was killed in a fiery head-on collision on the 118 Freeway just east of DeSoto Avenue when the freeway became overwhelmed with thick, black smoke.

"We are prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws at us," he said. "It depends on the winds. In this situation, wind is king. The winds could even be benevolent."

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning that will remain in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday.

The Sesnon Fire, one of several wildfires around the Southland, broke out near oil fields on Oat Mountain north of Porter Ranch. The flames spread rapidly over some 5,000 acres Monday, destroying 19 structures and forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes.

"We won't know how many of those structures were homes until it gets light and we get in there for a closer look," Humphrey said.

Motorists should also expect most northbound streets from Rinaldi Street to be restricted to emergency vehicles throughout the day, while southbound lanes will be available for evacuation, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Renaldi, Devonshire, and Lassen streets are available as east-west detours, police added.

Delays on streets and freeways should be anticipated in and around fire areas as smoke may limit visibility and distract other drivers, causing hazardous conditions, police said.

Police advised that motorists also avoid the following areas, if possible:

--- Topanga Canyon Boulevard northbound from Chatsworth Avenue

--- De Soto Avenue northbound at Rinaldi Street

--- Corbin Avenue northbound at Porter Ranch Drive

--- Mason Avenue northbound at Celtic Street

--- Mason Avenue northbound at Corbin Street

One firefighter who had been fighting the Sesnon Fire was treated for an eye injury at a hospital and released Monday, Humphrey said.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Monday night that 130 households in the San Fernando Valley were without power as a result of fire, and 2,100 homes lost power because of high winds. He said Department of Water and Power crews were working to restore electricity as quickly as possible.

The mayor urged residents looking for updated information on evacuations, road closures and assistance to call the LAFD at (800) 439-2909 or the L.A. County Fire Department at (323) 881-2413.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered Monday in Box Canyon, Woolsey Canyon, Bell Canyon, Lake Manor, Dayton Canyon, Brown Canyon and Twin Lakes. Voluntary evacuations were recommended for areas of the city west of Valley Circle Boulevard and north of Bell Canyon.

Authorities also recommended horse evacuations for Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills and Bell Canyon.

There are several locations where large animals are being sheltered. However, only the one set up at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, at 10 West Harbor Boulevard, was still accepting animals Tuesday.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman warned Monday that the Sesnon Fire had the potential to spread southward, possibly as far as Pacific Coast Highway, which he described as a "design for disaster."

"Our concern is to protect life, and property, and then to try to do our very best to keep that fire from getting through the Susana pass or making a run down toward Pacific Coast, and again, that is a real possibility with the wind conditions," Freeman said.

"There are homes in there, there is some ranch property," he said. "The information we're getting is that a lot of the fuel over there is considered to be light to medium brush ... but in the wind conditions, of course, that makes the fire move very rapidly, and it's a very dangerous situation over that that firefighters are contending with."

Humphrey, the Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman, added that the blaze also had the potential for spreading westward into Ventura County.

Several "suspicious" fires involving a few acres were also reported Monday at various areas in Los Angeles County, some near the 14 Freeway, Freeman said, urging members of the public to call authorities if they see anything suspicious.

About 800 firefighters were on the fire lines Monday battling the Sesnon Fire, and an additional 600 were expected to join the fire fight early Tuesday morning, Mayor Villaraigosa said.

According to the American Red Cross, more than 750 people have registered at the main evacuation center at San Fernando High School. Other centers were established at El Camino High School in Canoga Park, 5440 Valley Circle; Shepherd of the Hills Church, 19700 Rinaldi St. in Porter Ranch; and Canoga Park High School, 6850 Topanga Canyon Blvd. Sylmar High School was also being used as a "reunification" center.

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