Los Angeles News

SYLMAR, Calif. (CBS) ― Firefighters have nearly contained a brush fire that scorched 11,262 acres and destroyed hundreds of homes in Sylmar.

The Sayre Fire was 95 percent contained by Wednesday night. About 820 firefighters remain on the scene to take care of what was described as creeping, smoldering ground fire south of Placerita Canyon.

Firefighters continued to patrol and put out hot spots 300 feet inside the fire lines, although the terrain is very steep and inaccessible.

This evening the winds were blowing northeast up to 8 mph. The temperature was about 60 degrees, and humidity was up to 25 percent.

Fire officials sought the public's help in finding the cause of the fire which began Friday about 10:30 p.m. The blaze is believed to have started in the foothills near the northeast corner of Veterans Park in the 13000 block of Sayre Street in Sylmar.

"We hope someone who saw or heard something will call with information to assist in determining the cause of this devastating fire," said Jody Noiron, supervisor of the Angeles National Forest.

Noiron asked anyone with information to call the Los Angeles Fire Department's tip line at (213) 485-6095.

All roads were listed as open Wednesday night.

The blaze destroyed more than 600 structures, including some 480 modular homes at the Oakridge Mobile Home Park, along with nine single-family homes, 104 outbuildings and 10 commercial buildings, according to county fire officials.

On Tuesday, residents of the mobile home park were allowed to return to the site, where only 125 homes were left standing.

On Thursday, an assistance center will open at the Sylmar Recreation Center, 13129 Borden Ave., to serve as a one-stop center for those burned out of their homes and others adversely affected by the wildfire.

The assistance center will be closed Thanksgiving Day and the next day -- Friday -- but otherwise it will remain open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Although most of the park's residents have been accounted for, police are still trying to track down residents of 16 units, including those in spaces 64, 73, 103, 128, 196, 271, 314, 332, 390, 416, 434, 456, 502, 570, 575 and 597.

The LAPD is urging these residents to call (818) 838-9827 and provide the names of everyone in their households to confirm they are all safe.

Santa Ana winds of up to 80 mph fanned the fire, which at one point threatened 7,500 structures, prompting 10,000 residents to be evacuated, said county fire Inspector Sam Padilla.

Five firefighters and one civilian were injured in the fire, though none seriously, said Ron Myers of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Also damaged by the fire were more than 40 outbuildings on the campus of the Olive View Medical Center, which lost power for several hours early Saturday. On Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors asked its staff to develop plans for repairing the damaged facilities.

The board's staff will also be developing recommendations on how to make mobile home dwellings safer, particularly in fire-danger zones. The County Fire Department has also been asked to prepare recommendations for changes in building codes for mobile homes and mobile home parks to reduce their vulnerability.

On Tuesday, President Bush declared Southern California a disaster area, freeing up federal aid to areas ravaged by the wildfires, including Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

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