Friday (Day 2 of Powerhouse Fire) in Ruby Canyon, 1 mile from Lake Hughes Road. Photo: Matthew Moore

IGNORE THIS DATED STORY and go to the current one.

Unified Command Press Release, 11:21 p.m.

Evacuations

The Los Angeles County Fire Department, United States Forestry Service, along with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have ordered several evacuations and road closures as a result of the Powerhouse Fire. They are as follows:

The area from San Francisquito Canyon Road north to Elizabeth Lake Road, Lake Hughes, and areas south of Lake Hughes Road and north of South Portal Road, Lake Hughes, have been evacuated.

Lake Hughes is an unincorporated community in northern Los Angeles Count policed by the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station (www.Palmdale.lasd.org) of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (www.lasd.org) .

Cottonwood Campground in Lake Hughes is completely evacuated.

Los Angeles County Probation Camps John Munz and William Mendenhall in Lake Hughes have been evacuated to Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar.

Canyon Meadows Church campgrounds in Lake Hughes evacuation complete with five (5) individuals electing to remain.

Most recently, the community of Lake Hughes has been placed under mandatory evacuations and the community of Elizabeth Lake is under a madatory evacuation order.

Road Closures

Road closures have been ordered in Castaic at Lake Hughes Road as well as Lake Hughes Road to Elizabeth Lake Road in the Santa Clarita Valley, policed by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station (www.SantaClarita.lasd.org)

These road closures went into effect due to the heavy equipment traveling the road throughout the course of the day. Only Santa Clarita residents and emergency personnel will be allowed to enter San Francisquito Canyon Road at Copper Hill Drive. Only emergency personnel will be able to enter the area between Calle Daggett to the north and the Department of Water and Power Village to the south, located off San Francisquito Canyon Road.

San Francisquito Canyon Road remains under a hard closure. Bouquet Canyon Road is under a soft closure open to residents only. Elisabeth Lake Road is under a soft closure open to residents only.

Instructions:

Please use caution in surrounding areas.

Evacuation Centers

A Red Cross evacuation center has been set up at Marie Kerr Park Recreation Center, located at 2723-A Rancho Vista Boulevard, Palmdale.

The evacuation site for large animals has been set up at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (Gate 3), located at 2551 West Avenue H, Lancaster.

For small animals, the evacuation center is Lancaster Animal Shelter or Castaic Animal Shelter

Checklist

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Evacuation Checklist:

• Critical Medication

• Important photos and personal papers

• Essential valuables

• Pets, livestock, Pet food

• Change of clothes and toiletries

• Cell phone and charger

• Critical papers and effects in a fire-proof safe

• Evacuation Route Map with at least two routes

• Drive your planned route of escape before an actual emergency

Update 10:45 p.m.

Approximately 30 homes have been damaged or destroyed in the Lake Hughes community, west of Lake Elizabeth (west of the water body). L.A. County Fire reports that 5 have been destroyed.

USFS: 5,861 acres, 20 percent containment.

Deputies are preparing to evacuate the area north of Elizabeth Lake Road between Lake Hughes Road and San Francisquito Canyon Road.

Update 9:15 p.m.

CAL FIRE: Multiple structures are on fire in the Lake Hughes area. No description of structures from CAL FIRE at this time.

Residents report that Lake Hughes Elementary School has burned.

L.A. County Fire reports three confirmed injuries of unknown type. New totals: 5561 acres with 20% containment. Total 975 fire fighters battling with active structure protection.

USFS: “Fire was able to come into alignment with slope, winds, low RH and critically dry fuels making extreme head runs on all open divisions with long range spotting and very active backing and flanking fire. Fire spotted and became well developed north of Lake Hughes Road.”

Fire behavior: Rapid rates of spread with a high resistance to control efforts. Fire Exhibited moderate to long range spotting in receptive fuels and winds from the NE. Burned actively throughout the night with poor humidity recovery.

Significant events:

The community of Lake Hughes is under mandatory evacuation and Elizabeth Lake is under a voluntary evacuation order from the Sheriffs.

Evacuations remain in place along Lake Hughes Road including two youth probation camps and Cottonwood campground.

Lake Hughes Road has been closed from Cottonwood campground on the North to Lake Castaic on the South.

Check with Palmdale Sheriffs Dept. for more detailed information regarding any evacuations at (661) 272-2400.

San Francisquito Canyon Road remains under a hard closure. Bouquet Canyon Road is under a soft closure open to residence only. Elisabeth Lake Road is under a soft closure open to residence only.

A Red Cross evacuation center is located at Marie Kerr Park, 39700 30th St. W. Palmdale, 93551 for residence. Red Cross will identify any new animal evacuation centers. Small animals Lancaster Animal Shelter, 5210 W Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536 or Castaic Animal Shelter, 31044, Charlie Canyon Rd, Castaic, CA 913536.

Red Cross Phone #(626) 536-1152 and (661) 433-9710.

Update 7:15 p.m.

The evacuation of Lake Hughes is complete, except for a number of individuals who refuse to leave. Evacuations number about 150.

The Lake Elizabeth community is next.

According to CAL FIRE, the acreage now stands at 5,500 with 20 percent containment. About 1,200 structures have been threatened and about 2,000 people have been evacuated since Thursday.

LASD:

The Los Angeles County Fire Department along with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has ordered immediate evacuations from San Francisquito Canyon Road up to Elizabeth Lake Road and areas south of Lake Hughes Road. Additional Emergency Personnel has been activated to assist in evacuations.

Road closures have been ordered in Castaic at Lake Hughes Road as well as Lake Hughes Road to Elizabeth Lake Road. These road closures went into effect due to the heavy equipment traveling the road throughout the course of the day. Road closures initiated yesterday are still in effect. Only Santa Clarita residents and Emergency personnel will be allowed to enter San Francisquito Canyon Road at Copper Hill. Only Emergency personnel will be able to enter the areas between Calle Daggett and the Department of Water and Power Village off the San Francisquito Canyon Road.

A Red Cross evacuation center has been set up at Marie Kerr Park (Recreation Center), located at 2723-A Rancho Vista Blvd, in the City of Palmdale. The evacuation site for large animals has been set up at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (Gate 3), located at 2551 West Avenue H, in the City of Lancaster.

Update 5:50 p.m.

Preparations are being made to evacuate the rest of the Lake Hughes and Lake Elizabeth communities.

Update – Road Closures, 2 p.m. (L.A. Co. Public Works):

Location: Castaic/Lake Hughes: Lake Hughes, Ridge Route to Elizabeth Lake

Status: Road Closed

LASD Update Saturday Noon:

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department along with the LA County Fire Department are in the process of evacuating the 41600 Block of Lake Hughes Road north to the Mendenhall Probation camp due to the Powerhouse brush fire. The fire has burned approximately 3,600 acres and continues to move in a northbound direction.

Approximately 600 firefighters [USFS reports 958] are on scene fighting the brush fire as well as assisting with evacuations. At this time the brush fire is 15 percent contained with no reported injuries or lost structures.

Additional road closures have been ordered in Castaic at Lake Hughes Road as well as Lake Hughes Road to Elizabeth Lake Road. These road closures went into effect due to the heavy equipment traveling the road throughout the course of the day. Road closures initiated yesterday are still in effect. Only Santa Clarita residents and Emergency personnel will be allowed to enter San Francisquito Canyon Road at Copper Hill. Only Emergency personnel will be able to enter the areas between Calle Daggett and the Department of Water and Power Village off the San Francisquito Canyon Road.

A Red Cross evacuation center has been set up at Marie Kerr Park, located at 39700 30th St. West, in the City of Palmdale. The evacuation site for large animals has been set up at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (Gate 3), located at 2551 West Avenue H, in the City of Lancaster.

The Cal Fire site Evacuation Checklist:

• Critical Medication

• Important photos and personal papers

• Essential valuables

• Pets and livestock

• Change of clothes and toiletries

• Cell phone and charger

• Critical papers and effects in a fire-proof safe

• Evacuation Route Map with at least two routes

• Drive your planned route of escape before an actual emergency

Saturday morning:

Fire fighters are battling a blaze that has blackened 3,662 acres as of Saturday morning and is still just 15 percent contained.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, a total of 958 personnel from multiple agencies are fighting the fire, which started Thursday afternoon in San Francisquito Canyon near the LADWP’s Power House 1, about nine miles north of Copper Hill Road.

The fire is reported at 15 percent contained.

Full containment is targeted for Tuesday night at midnight.

“It’s still very active now,” said John Wagner of Forest Service.

“They’re trying to get a line around the southwest side,” he said. “It’s burning northwest still.’

The community of Green Valley is no longer under mandatory evacuation. There are several road closures in the area, according to Forest Service officials.

San Fransciquito Canyon Road is under a hard closure. Bouquet Canyon Road is under a soft closure open to residents only. Elisabeth Lake Road is under a soft closure open to residents only.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department along with the LA County Fire Department are evacuating Camp Mendenhall Probation Camp and areas north of South Portal Road and west of San Francisquito Canyon, due to the Powerhouse brush fire.

The winds are blowing in a southern direction, however, the fire is still burning in a northwestern direction.

Approximately 600 Firefighters are on scene fighting the brush fire, as well as assisting with evacuations.

A Red Cross evacuation center is located at Marie Kerr Park, 39700 30th St. W. Palmdale, 93551 for residents. Large Animal Shelter, Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 5210 W. Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536. Small animals Lancaster Animal Shelter, 5210 W Avenue I, Lancaster, CA 93536 or Castaic Animal Shelter, 31044, Charlie Canyon Rd, Castaic, CA 913536.

There was one injury reported from a firefighter who had a rock fall on his leg. It was not known at this time if it was Forest Service personnel or county Fire Department personnel.

All missing hikers have found their way out of the Angeles National Forest, and there were no serious injuries, a Palmdale Sheriff’s Station official said at :30 p.m. Thursday night.

USFS, Saturday morning

CAL FIRE Saturday 6/1/2013

View from a Southwest flight (Photo: CAL FIRE)