Weather

Creek Fire burns more than 12K acres in Sylmar area

By ABC7.com staff
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
The Creek Fire was still burning on hillsides Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017 after scorching more than 11,000 acres in the Sylmar area.
SUNLAND, Calif. (KABC) -- The Creek Fire in the Sunland-Tujunga and Sylmar areas had scorched more than 12,000 acres by Wednesday evening.

Fire officials said the blaze was estimated at just 5 percent containment after burning 12,605 acres as firefighting efforts continued well into the night.
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Early Wednesday morning, the California Highway Patrol reopened both sides of the 210 Freeway, though some off-ramps remained closed.
Virginia Padilla, left, who lost 29 horses at her Padilla Ranch on Little Tujunga Road is comforted by horse trainer Shelby Hope.none
Ranch hand Anthony Martin hoses down smoldering stalls where some of the 29 horses and numerous other animals had died in the Creek Fire at Rancho Padilla on December 6, 2017.none
Ranch hands Angel Flores and Anthony Martin (R) hose down smoldering property near stables where 29 horses were killed by the Creek Fire at Rancho Padilla on December 6, 2017.none
A truck destroyed by the Creek Fire in the Sylmar neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, on December 6, 2017.none
A Los Angeles County firefighter puts water on a burning car during the Creek Fire in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A Los Angeles County firefighter puts water a burning house in a wildfire in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Smoke from the Creek wildfire in the San Gabriel Mountains, the second range behind the Hollywood Hills, home of the Hollywood sign, looms up over Los Angeles on Dec. 5.none
A Los Angeles County firefighter puts water on a burning roof during a wildfire in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Homeowner Alan Barnard battles a hot spot from a wildfire in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A home owners battle hot spots on his roof on the "Creek Fire" in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A woman evacuates her horse through smoke from a wildfire in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
Homeowner Alan Barnard walks past the remains of his RV from a wildfire in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
A resident watches a wildfire burn in the Lake View Terrace area of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017.none
The Creek Fire near Sylmar and Lake View Terrace.none
The Creek Fire near Sylmar and Lake View Terrace.none
The Creek Fire near Sylmar and Lake View Terrace.none
The Creek Fire near Sylmar and Lake View Terrace.none
The Creek Fire near Sylmar and Lake View Terrace.none
The Creek Fire near Sylmar and Lake View Terrace.none
The Creek Fire near Sylmar and Lake View Terrace.none
The Creek Fire near Sylmar and Lake View Terrace.none


All of the westbound off-ramps from the 2 Freeway to the 5 Freeway remain closed, and four eastbound off-ramps were also closed: Osborne, Wheatland, Sunland and La Tuna Canyon, CHP said.

Approximately 120,000 people were impacted by evacuation orders due to the Creek Fire.
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LAFD's evacuation map


Police are monitoring the evacuated neighborhoods to prevent looters.



With the fire moving on from some Sylmar neighborhoods, some residents were lined up in their cars hoping to be allowed back home.

But officials said the evacuation orders would remain because the winds were expected to kick back up again Wednesday night, keeping the fire danger real.

"We want to go home," said Kelly Aquino, who had waited around for hours trying to be allowed back to her house in the Mountain Glen II development. "Right now we're at a hotel. Bottom line is we just want to go home back to our own house, find out what's going on with our properties."

She believes her home was spared from the flames, but did suffer some damage from the winds. Other neighbors down the road at Santiago Estates weren't so lucky, where a number of properties were burned.



More than 800 firefighters from different agencies and more than 50 engines were assisting in the firefight.

RELATED: List of evacuations, closures near Sylmar, Kagel Canyon and surrounding areas

Several firefighters were injured battling the blaze - three were reported to be in stable condition, and at least two were expected to be released from hospitals on Wednesday.

At least 30 structures were destroyed in the blaze, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.
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Gov. Jerry Brown also declared an emergency in Los Angeles County for the Creek Fire, as well as the Rye Fire.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department established an information phone line regarding the Creek Fire: (626) 574-5205.



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