Creek Fire: Some evacuations lifted as containment increases

By
Friday, December 8, 2017
Firefighters made some gains as they continued to douse the Creek Fire, which scorched thousands of acres in the Sylmar area.
SUNLAND, Calif. (KABC) -- Firefighters made some gains as they continued to douse the Creek Fire, which scorched thousands of acres in the Sylmar area.

Los Angeles County fire officials said the blaze, which was estimated to have burned 15,300 acres, was at 20 percent containment Thursday morning. That is double the containment figure from Wednesday.
[Ads /]


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



Approximately 99,000 residents were evacuated from their homes orders due to the blaze, which ignited Tuesday in Kagel Canyon near Sylmar and Lake View Terrace.

By Thursday afternoon, all evacuation orders were lifted except for Limeklin Canyon. Shadow Hills north of Sunland Boulevard and the Riverwood community were open only to residents.



"I'm really surprised that they were able to get it done so quickly and just very grateful for all of the people who worked really hard to get it contained," Carla White said.

At least 15 structures were destroyed and 15 others were damaged in the blaze.

RELATED: List of evacuations, closures near Sylmar, Kagel Canyon and surrounding areas
[Ads /]
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti declared a state of emergency in the city of Los Angeles due to the fire. Nearly 1,700 firefighters were involved in the firefight, according to Garcetti.

Some of those destroyed homes were within the Santiago Estates area of Sylmar.



Although many of the homes were charred on Tuesday, firefighters were still dousing hot spots that flared up Thursday morning.
For the first time, LAFD will launch drones to do property assessment and look for hot spots, then firefighters will be dispatched to put them out, officials announced Thursday.
[Ads /]


LAFD's evacuation map


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



The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Report a correction or typo
Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.