View from Hidden Valley, Newhall, Friday 1 p.m.

UPDATE Friday 5:40 p.m.: Northbound Highway 14 is open.

UPDATE Friday 5 p.m.: The Saddleridge Fire stands at 7,542 acres burned and 13% contained, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

UPDATE Friday 4:34 p.m.: Law enforcement has just opened two lanes north and two lanes south on Interstate 5, LAFD reports.

UPDATE Friday 4:30 p.m.: Firefighting helicopters are working to protect Disney Ranch in Placerita Canyon just off Highway 14.

UPDATE Friday 3:20 p.m.: Southbound lanes of the Interstate 5 freeway through the Santa Clarita Valley have been reopened, with California Highway Patrol units escorting the first drivers through the pass. All other closures remain in effect.

UPDATE Friday 1:55 p.m.: The size of the Saddleridge Fire has been updated to 7,542 acres with 13% containment, according to a Fire Department news release sent out at 1:50 p.m.

There are no new evacuations at this time, the release said.

A total of 23,000 homes were under evacuation orders, and 25 structures were either damaged or destroyed, but officials did note that an assessment team was still investigating those numbers.

Evacuation centers for people and small pets are set up at the Northridge Recreation Center (18300 Lemarsh Street) and the Granada Hills Recreation Center (16730 Chatsworth Street).

The LA County Department of Animal Care and Control has set up shelter facilities for large animals at Hansen Dam (11770 Foothill Boulevard, Lake View Terrace 91342) and Pierce College (6201 Winnetka Blvd., Woodland Hills 91371).

Saddleridge fire evacuation zones as of 1 p.m. Friday, Octrober 11, 2019. | Map: LAFD.

UPDATE Friday 1:20 p.m.: Los Angeles County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol and the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials have said that as of 1:20 p.m. Friday there is no current threat to the Santa Clarita Valley from the Saddleridge Fire.

Dropping fire retardant west of I-5 south of Newhall, seen from east of I-5

“It’s not currently a threat,” said Leslie Lua, a spokeswoman from the Fire Department, at approximately 1:15 p.m. “Firefighters are in defensive mode, and they’re making sure it’s not spreading to over there.”

Shirley Miller, spokeswoman for the SCV Sheriff’s Station, said no evacuations were being undertaken in their jurisdiction.

“We’ve had zero evacuations (in Santa Clarita),” said Miller. “We’re very much on guard monitoring closely and staying in contact with the Fire Department, LAPD and CHP.”

Despite the lack of evacuations or threat to Santa Clarita, Miller did remind residents though that weather and fire conditions can change fast, however.

“We want residents to remain vigilant and have a plan in mind if the situation should change,” said Miller.

Josh Greenguard of the CHP Newhall office confirmed they had heard no reports of evacuations they were asked to assist with in Santa Clarita.

UPDATE Friday 1 p.m.: Crescent Valley Mobile Estates in the Newhall Pass is under voluntary evacuation due to the Saddleridge Fire.

Saddleridge Fire update: Southbound lanes of Interstate 5 were reopened at 3:20 p.m. Friday. | Photo: LASD.

ORIGINAL POST, Friday morning:
Santa Clarita Valley residents awoke Friday morning to news of the Saddleridge Fire, one of the most destructive Santa Ana wind-swept fires in recent memory.

As of 8:30 a.m., the Saddleridge Fire is blamed for the death of one civilian who suffered cardiac arrest and died at the hospital. It has burned more than 4,700 acres and destroyed at least 25 structures, with mandatory evacuations for about 12,700 homes.

Santa Ana winds, north to south, which prompted officials at the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for Thursday and Friday, pushed the fire to the southwest across Sylmar, Granada Hills and Porter Ranch.

Fixed-wing aircraft makes a drop on the west side of I-5 near Calgrove Boulevard on Friday, October 11, 2019. | Photo: Dan Watson/The Signal.

The Santa Ana winds were expected to begin diminishing drastically today, Weather Specialist Keily Delerme said Friday morning.

“We are expecting the winds to decrease later in the afternoon,” she said. “The winds will be a lot weaker than they were (Thursday).”

Delerme stressed, however, that although the winds will diminish, extremely dry conditions will remain.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Friday, however, the National Weather Service extended its red flag warning until Saturday at 6 p.m.

Hart Park closed Friday morning due to continued high winds and fire danger.

As a result of intense firefighting efforts, many area roadways are closed and almost all SCV schools are closed.

William S. Hart Park in Newhall is also closed due to high wind, according to park officials Friday morning. The Bow Wows & Meows Pet Fair at the park on Sunday is still on as of 11:45 a.m. Friday, according to organizers.

Closed roads

Local roads shut down because of the Saddleridge Fire include The Old Road from Pico Canyon Road to Sierra Highway, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

The Old Road from McBean Parkway to Pico Canyon Road remains open but only for emergency vehicles.

As of 2:10 p.m., Marriott Way in Stevenson Ranch was closed from The Old Road to Pico Canyon Road, and Chiquella was also closed from The Old Road to Pico Canyon Road, but open for emergency vehicles only, according to a DPW update.

Crescent Valley Mobile Estates, Friday 1 p.m.

Interstate 5 remains closed from the 118 Freeway to Calgrove Boulevard, according to Caltrans. As well, the northbound and southbound connectors to the eastbound lanes of the 118 are closed.

With all roadways shut down through the Newhall Pass, motorists bound for Los Angeles looking for alternatives are being told by map-direction apps to traverse the mountains from Fillmore to Moorpark on Highway 23 and through the Angeles National Forest along Big Tujunga Road.

Although Highway 23 remains open, the traffic through there, as of 10 a.m., was jammed.

“It is heavily used right now,” California Highway Patrol Officer Josh Greengard said at 10 a.m.

The ANF route following Sand Canyon Road to the south through the mountains is not advised, Greengard said.

“That route was open but a couple of big rigs tried to go through it and could not get through,” he said.

The big rigs, unable to negotiate turns, are now stuck in the pass, he said.

“They can’t clear the turns and can’t get through,” Greengard said.

“If they can work from home, they should do that,” he said.

Saddleridge Fire freeway closures as of 10 a.m. Friday morning. LASD map.

Friday, 2:19 p.m. Caltrans update

Full freeway closures:
* Interstate 5 between State Route 118 and Calgrove Boulevard (southbound lanes reopened as of 3:20 p.m.)
* Interstate 210 between State Route 118 and Interstate 5
* State Route 14 between Interstate 5 and Newhall Avenue
* Interstate 405 between State Route 118 and Interstate 5.

Connector closures:
* Eastbound State Route 118 to westbound Interstate 210
* Eastbound State Route 118 to northbound Interstate 405

Caltrans urges the public to plan ahead, drive safely and be advised of any closures and detours in Southern California this weekend.

Motorists can find real-time traffic information at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ and the Caltrans District 7 Twitter account, @CaltransDist7, for a list of current closures.

View toward Placerita Canyon from Sierra Highway.

Closed schools

News of many school and class closures was posted as bulletins on the website of their respective districts.

The William S. Hart Union High School District announced that all of its schools are closed Friday “due to weather, fire and transportation issues.”

All schools in the Saugus Union School District, Newhall School District and the Castaic Union School District are also closed, as are schools in the Sulphur Springs Union School District.

Both campuses of Opportunities For Learning are closed.

All classes at College of the Canyons have been canceled for Friday.

A post on the college website reads: “All classes are canceled due to weather, fire and transportation issues. This applies to the Valencia campus, Canyon Country campus, and all off-site locations. Updates will be posted here as necessary.”

“Athletics: All College of the Canyons athletic events, both home and away, are canceled today. Please check with the Hart District for the status of high school athletic events scheduled on the college campus.”

The Friday production “Boys’ Life” at COC’s Performing Arts Center has been canceled for Friday.

College staffers were advised to stay at home if they were not on campus.

Classes and all activities at California State University, Northridge were canceled Friday and the campus is closed through the weekend, according to a Friday morning email alert and afternoon update.

CSUN employees scheduled to work Friday will be granted administrative leave with no deduction to personal hours accrued due to the campus closure.

Physical Plant Management employees and other essential personnel are asked to report to campus in accordance with their work schedule and contact their supervisor if they are unable to do so.

The Saturday, Oct. 12, performance by La Marisoul at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts will be rescheduled. CSUN’s Parent Day, scheduled to take place Saturday, has been canceled.

CSUN employees and students and others should monitor CSUN.edu and the following dial-in numbers for further information: 1-866-535-2786 for faculty/staff and 1-866-515-2786 for students and the community.

An update on the status of campus will be posted on the CSUN website at 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13.

Other Cancellations
* Dixon Duck Dash-Rubber Ducky Festival: Due to the ongoing Saddleridge wildfire event, the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center must cancel its 17th Annual Dixon Duck Dash/Rubber Ducky Festival scheduled for Saturday, October 12.

A duck race will still be held in the near future and winners announced for all prizes. More information will be provided when available.

SDFHC thanks all adoptees, participants, volunteers, vendors, sponsors, and the community for their ongoing support for our annual fundraiser. We wish you and your family’s wellness and safety during this challenging time.

* LASD Fun in the Sun Chili Cookoff: The annual event at the Jackquestrian Center in Castaic has been canceled, according to the SCV Sheriff’s Station. No news on rescheduling.

View from West Creek-Valencia, Friday 2:33 a.m. | Photo by Helena Munoz.