Canyon Fire burning near Lake Piru now 91% contained

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to help California in battling the massive Canyon Fire burning in the Castaic area, FEMA officials announced Friday.

In a statement, the agency did not specify the amount of funds that have been earmarked.

The authorization comes after the state of California on Aug. 7 submitted a request for a Fire Management Assistance Grant declaration for the Canyon Fire, according to a news release.

"At the time of the request, the fire was threatening approximately 5,118 homes in and around Hasley Canyon and Val Verde," the FEMA statement said. "Mandatory evacuations were taking place for approximately 5,000 people," and evacuation warnings were in effect for another 11,000 people.

Fire Management Assistance Grants, or FMAGs, provide federal funding for up to 75% of eligible firefighting costs. FMAGs are approved through FEMA to assist in fighting fires that threaten to become major incidents, the agency said.

Eligible costs covered by the grants can include expenses for field camps, equipment use, materials, supplies and mobilization, and demobilization activities attributed to fighting the fire.

For more information on FMAGs, visit fema.gov.

Crews battling the Canyon Fire were able to gain containment on the blaze as of Friday morning, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

As of 10:30 a.m. Friday, containment of the nearly 5,000-acre blaze was at 25%.

"Air attack and ground crews aggressively attacked the fire to limit its spread and protect residents and structures in the fire's path," the fire department said in a statement.

Helicopters made air drops overnight as crews took advantage of breaks in the wind, the fire department said. Ground crews worked to protect homes.

The fire department said "hard work and operational efficiency" protected homes from widespread damage, even as the high heat and dry conditions" pushed the fire's growth.

Crews battling the Canyon Fire were able to gain containment on the blaze as of Friday morning, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

Castaic High School was closed Friday as the northeast perimeter of the massive Canyon Fire continued to burn near the campus.

The school at 31575 Valley Creek Road, about 2 miles west of the 5 Freeway, is in an area that is under an evacuation order due to the fire.

The first day of the fall semester is scheduled for Aug. 12, according to the school's calendar.

Although the fire zone has come dangerously close to the campus, no structures at the school have been reported damaged.

Whether Castaic High School would reopen on Monday was unclear.

The fire moved fast after erupting near Lake Piru in Ventura County, then spreading into Los Angeles County, prompting evacuation orders in the Val Verde area west of Castaic.

As of Friday morning, the blaze had grown to 4,856 acres with 0% containment

The Canyon Fire has burned a few thousand acres across Ventura and Los Angeles counties, but the scope of damage it will cause for residents in the area remains unclear.

Video from the fire zone appears to show at least one burning structure that exploded in flames.

As the Canyon Fire continues to burn in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, video from the fire zone appears to show at least one burning structure that exploded in flames.

However, fire officials have not said exactly how many homes or structures have been lost in the fire.

One of the areas the flames spread toward is Halsey Canyon, but firefighters said they managed to keep the fire at bay, sparing homes in the neighborhood around Hidden Valley Court.