As of 7 p.m. Friday, the Tick Fire was downgraded to 4,050 acres with 10 percent containment, according to the LACoFD and LASD incident Update. Approximately 10,000 structures remain threatened, six have been destroyed and seven have been damaged.

Areas that have been repopulated:
* Between Whites Canyon Road and Sierra Highway, south of Plum Canyon and north of Soledad Canyon Road
* Any area south of Fire station 132 from Sand Canyon to Placerita Canyon.
* Areas southwest of Sierra Highway at Linda Vista

Areas still under mandatory evacuation:
* East of Sand Canyon, south of Sierra Highway to Soledad Canyon Road

Evacuation centers:
* College of the Canyons Valencia Campus (currently at maximum capacity but open)
* West Ranch High School
* Castaic Animal Shelter remains a small animal evacuation center

Roads reopening:
* As of 10:30 p.m. Friday, all northbound lanes and two southbound lanes plus the HOV lane of southbound Highway 14 were reopened.
* The southbound right lane and shoulder are closed from Agua Dulce Canyon Road to Sand Canyon Road for guardrail repair.
* The Soledad Canyon Road and Sand Canyon Road off-ramps from northbound Highway 14 remain closed.
* Placerita Canyon Road from Highway 14 to Sand Canyon Road was reopened at approximately 7 p.m. Friday, according to the LA County of Public Works.

Continued road closures:
* Eastbound Vasquez Canyon Road at Bouquet Canyon Road
* Vasquez Canyon Road at Sierra Highway, traffic closed to westbound Vasquez Canyons and northbound Sierra Highway
* Sierra Highway at Sand Canyon Road, traffic closed at southbound Sierra Highway and southbound Sand Canyon Road
* Southbound Sierra Highway at Davenport Road
* Soledad Canyon at Agua Dulce
* Agua Dulce at SR-14

Firefighters are continuing to perform spot checks in the burn areas to prevent rekindling of the fire and build containment lines. Winds and weather continue to play a major factor in the behavior of the fire and burn area.

Currently, 1,325 firefighters, 225 engines, 14 hand crews, four helicopters and numerous agencies are assigned to the incident.

The cause of the fire is being investigated and currently unknown.

* * * * *

Additional structure fires erupted overnight Thursday as the Tick Fire continued burning in the eastern Santa Clarita Valley, crossing over Highway 14 and forcing additional evacuations, including Sand Canyon, and closing the 14 freeway in both directions.

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Janice Hahn both issued emergency declarations for and in the county of Los Angeles Friday afternoon in response to the Tick Fire.

“This has certainly been a harrowing couple of days for the city of Santa Clarita and we cannot thank our first-responders, our Fire Department, our Sheriff’s and Highway Patrol for being able to make sure that people are safe,” said Santa Clarita Mayor Marsha McLean at an L.A. County Fire Department news conference update at 5 p.m. Friday.

As of 4 p.m. Friday, northbound lanes of Highway 14 had been reopened by the CHP.

At 5 p.m. Friday, the LA County Sheriff’s Department began to repopulate the area between Whites Canyon and Sierra Highway south of Plum Canyon and north of Soledad Canyon Road.

At 6 p.m., the LASD began to repopulate Sand Canyon from 29310 Sand Canyon Road – Fire Station 132 –to Placerita Canyon Road.

Los Angeles County Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger provides an update on shelter facilities during a Tick Fire press update at 5 p.m. Friday, October 25, 2019. State Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita, green shirt) looks on.

More Tick Fire details were reported and updated here throughout Friday. The latest roundup of available information follows:

Current developments include, as of the LACoFD update at 5 p.m. Friday:
* Fire jumped the 14 Freeway Thursday night into Sand Canyon
* An additional 800 acres burned overnight Thursday
* Approximately 4,300 acres burned total
* 5% contained
* No firefighter or civilian injuries reported
* 50,000 residents evacuated from danger zones
* 6 structures lost, with more expected after officials assess damaged areas
* 10,000 structures threatened
* 574 personnel on the scene
* approximately 100 fire engines assigned
* 6 helicopters assigned
* 4 air tankers assigned
* 8 hand crews
* Central Park in Saugus is the main command and staging area for firefighters
* Firefighters’ goal Friday: further containment. Weekend goal: Keep the fire in present footprint and out of the Angeles National Forest and away from any more homes.

WEATHER
The National Weather Service calls for temperatures in the upper 80s, single-digit humidity, winds 20 mph with gusts to 30-40 mph through late afternoon Friday.

The erratic Santa Ana wind conditions pose a challenge for firefighters as they may change direction and intensify, posing a greater threat to homes.

A high wind advisory is in effect for the SCV until Friday at 3 p.m., while a Red Flag Warning for critical fire danger remains in effect until 10 p.m. Friday.

AIR QUALITY: SMOKE ADVISORY
According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, smoke from the Tick Fire has caused unhealthy air quality that affects everyone in areas directly impacted by smoke, including portions of:

* Santa Clarita Valley
* Northwest Coastal Los Angeles County
* West San Fernando Valley
* East San Fernando Valley
* San Gabriel Mountains

This advisory remains in effect through Friday night.

* Several homes burned overnight Thursday. Numbers of homes burned or damaged are not yet available. LA County Fire Department damage assessment personnel arrived on the scene Friday morning and are expected to report on the numbers of structures damaged or destroyed when assessments are complete.

Tick Fire area burning nearly 4,000 acres as of 9:30 a.m. Friday, October 25, 2019.

REPOPULATIONS (as of 5 p.m. Friday)
As noted above, at 5 p.m. Friday, the LA County Sheriff’s Department began to repopulate the area between Whites Canyon and Sierra Highway south of Plum Canyon and north of Soledad Canyon Road.

At 6 p.m., the LASD began to repopulate Sand Canyon from 29310 Sand Canyon Road — Fire Station 132 — to Placerita Canyon Road.

STILL EVACUATED (as of 5 p.m. Friday)
The LASD released an updated map of evacuation zones at 7 Friday morning (pictured at top of story), with the above-mentioned repopulation exceptions.

Shelter for evacuees remains available at the College of the Canyons gym on the main campus in Valencia at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road. West Ranch High School has been added as an evacuation center – 26255 Valencia Boulevard in Stevenson Ranch.

Mandatory evacuations:
* South of Highway 14, west of Agua Dulce
* North of Placerita Canyon
* Both sides of Sand Canyon Road

Voluntary:
* Fair Oaks community

* More than 300 local Airbnb hosts have offered free lodging for Tick Fire evacuees. See KTLA’s website for more.

ANIMAL EVACUATIONS
* Small and large animals: Castaic Animal Care & Control Center, 31044 Charlie Canyon, Castaic 91384, and any of the county’s six other shelters.
* Large animals: Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, 2551 Avenue H, Lancaster 93536; and Pierce College, 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills 91371.
Call 661-257-3191 for more animal relocation info.

ROAD CLOSURES (as of 12:30 p.m. Friday)
The city of Santa Clarita is advising residents and motorists that “roads in Canyon Country are jammed. Please avoid the area so residents can evacuate and first responders can get in.”

All Northbound Traffic from Soledad Canyon Rd. to the following intersections:
• Mammoth Lane
• Shadow Pines Boulevard
• Rue Entrée
• Prairie Lane
• Deep Creek Drive
• Galeton Road Dr.
• Solemint
• Sierra Highway

All directions at:
• Sand Canyon to Lost Canyon
• Soledad Canyon to Miss Grace Drive
• Sierra Highway to Vasquez Canyon

Eastbound Traffic at:
• Whites Canyon Road to Steinway Street
• Sierra Highway to Quinn Drive
• Plum Canyon to Skyline Ranch Road

Hard closure of Sierra Highway at Davenport due to the Tick Fire on Friday, October 25, 2019. | Photo: CHP.

Westbound Traffic at:
• Whites Canyon Road to Ashboro Dr.
• Northbound Traffic at:
• Plum Canyon to Skyline Ranch Road
• Plum Canyon to La Madrid Dr.
• Plum Canyon to Santa Catarina Rd.
• Plum Canyon to Via Joyce Dr.

Per California Highway Patrol, an alternate route if you are traveling from the Lancaster area includes taking Highway 14 NB to WB Highway 138 to Interstate 5.

CHP hard closure of Highway 14 northbound onramp at Golden Valley Road in Canyon Country. | Photo: CHP.

California Highway Patrol Road Closures (continued):

• NB 14 Freeway is OPEN all lanes as of 4 p.m. Friday. Off-ramps at Soledad Canyon Road and Sand Canyon Road remain closed.

• SB 14 Freeway from Escondido Road to Golden Valley Road
• Vasquez Canyon Road
• Sierra Highway from Davenport Road to Sierra Highway at Sand Canyon
• WB Vasquez Canyon at Sierra Highway
• SB Sierra Highway at Davenport
• EB Vasquez Canyon at Bouquet Canyon
• EB Placerita Canyon east of SR-14

CHP hard closure of Agua Dulce Road to Highway 14, Friday, October 25, 2019. | Photo: CHP.

California Highway Patrol Road Closures:
• SB Sierra Hwy at Sand Canyon
• WB Vasquez Cyn at Sierra Hwy
• SB Sierra Hwy at Davenport
• EB Vasquez at Bouquet Cyn
• EB Placerita Cyn EAST of SR-14
• Sand Canyon at Soledad Canyon
• Soledad Canyon at Agua Dulce Canyon
• NB Sand Canyon at Placerita Canyon

Due to the closures on Highway 14, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department asks residents to divert to the following roads and highways:
* Interstate 5
* California State Route 138
* San Francisquito Canyon Road

LASD: “We ask residents to avoid Bouquet Canyon Road. The Fire Department, Sheriff Deputies personnel are using the road as a primary pathway to deliver resources to the staging point.”

Road closures due to the Tick Fire as of noon Friday, October 25, 2019.

POWER OUTAGES (as of 4 p.m. Friday)
Southern California Edison has its public safety power shutoffs engaged in:
* Leona Valley
* Agua Dulce
* Mint Canyon
* Acton
* Val Verde

For SCE maps of the affected areas, click here.

METROLINK
Train service on Metro’s Antelope Valley line remains disrupted by the Tick Fire on Friday.

AV Line 213 to Palmdale was canceled for Friday due to earlier fire activity near the tracks. MTA buses will assist passengers from Los Angeles to Sylmar/San Fernando. Any passengers traveling thereafter will be provided alternate transportation.

Get the latest Metrolink service advisories here.

CAUSE OF TICK FIRE
The cause of the Tick Fire remains under investigation, according to the LA County Fire Department Friday morning update. The fire started at 1:24 p.m. Thursday at 31656 Tick Canyon Road in Agua Dulce, according to the LACoFD. Strong Santa Ana winds pushed the blaze west toward Santa Clarita during the afternoon and evening.

The fire was 5% contained at just under 4,300 acres as of Friday at 5 p.m. When the fire will be 100% contained is unknown.

Check out the Los Angeles Times’ stylized map showing the Tick Fire in relation to the 2016 Sand Fire and the 2007 Buckweed Fire.

Tick Fire map, with point of origin indicated, October 24, 2019.

OTHER EFFECTS, CANCELATIONS, CLOSURES
* AYSO SOCCER: Practice Friday night at Central Park canceled. Saturday practice status was unknown as of 11 a.m. Friday.

* HART DISTRICT FOOTBALL: All varsity Foothill League football games scheduled for Friday night will be postponed to Saturday night (tomorrow) at 7 p.m. at their originally scheduled locations. JV football games are moved to Monday… Hart/West Ranch JV game will be played at West Ranch at 3:30 p.m., Canyon/Golden Valley game at 6 p.m. at Canyon, Valencia/Saugus game at 3:30 p.m. at Saugus. All freshman football games TBD.

“The Hart District joins our Santa Clarita friends and neighbors in sharing our profound respect and admiration for the amazing firefighters and law enforcement officials who are doing such an incredible job working to preserve life and property in our community,” officials said in their Friday afternoon update.

* Saugus Football: Saugus is offering free admission for everyone at Saturday’s game. The school will also be collecting donations for the Red Cross if fans feel inclined to give back.

* COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS: From the COC Public Information Office Friday morning: “At the time of this message and at first light, it appears that the fire burned up to the hills next to the Canyon Country campus at multiple points.

“There was damage to a construction trailer in Lot 5 and damage to several carts adjacent to Quad-5 Campus Safety. The Early Childhood Education Center (ECE) in Quad-2 was also damaged.

“Additional details will be forthcoming, but the extent of damage is less than could have been considering the ferocity of the fire and the fast-moving winds. We are grateful for the work of fire and public safety first-responders who are protecting our community. Please stay safe today.”

Home burning in Tick Fire in Santa Clarita, October 24, 2019.

The Santa Clarita Valley community is extremely grateful for all the local and visiting firefighters who are working so hard to keep us safe and save our homes. These firefighters catch a few winks and Central Park on Friday, October 25, 2019.

* * * * *

PREVIOUS STORY, from The Signal — as of 7 a.m. Friday

* The Fire Department posted on Twitter at approximately 3:15 a.m.: “The Fire has jumped the 14 Fwy. The 14 is closed in both directions, Northbound from Golden Valley, Southbound from Escondido Cyn. Additional evacuations are now in place South of 14 Fwy east of Sand Cyn, north of Placerita Cyn., west of Agua Dulce.”

* According to the Fire Department’s official Twitter account, “ALL of Sand Canyon from the 14 to Placerita is under evacuation (not just east of Sand Cyn), and Fair Oaks will remain voluntary. Sierra Highway between Davenport and Golden Valley is also closed.”

* The SCV Sheriff’s Station tweeted at approximately 3:45 a.m.: “**ADVISORY** #TickFire EVACUATIONS CURRENTLY ARE: – South of 14 FWY – East of Sand Canyon Rd – North of Placerita Canyon Rd – West of Agua Dulce Canyon Rd.”

* Small animals can be evacuated to the Castaic Animal Shelter, 31044 N. Charlie Canyon Road.

* Schools throughout the Santa Clarita Valley are closed Friday, including the William S. Hart Union High School District, Sulphur Springs Union School District, Newhall School District, Saugus Union School District, Castaic Union School District, SCVi Charter School, both campuses of College of the Canyons, and California Institute of the Arts.

* Metrolink service on the Antelope Valley Line is disrupted due to the fire. Metrolink posted on Twitter just after 4:30 a.m.: “AV Line 202 to Los Angeles will hold at Lancaster due to track closure between Vincent Grade and Via Princessa; fire department activity near the tracks. Due to 14 FWY closure buses cannot be secured. Updates to follow.”

* Current public safety power outages, according to Southern California Edison, as of 6 a.m., include Mint Canyon, Agua Dulce, Acton and Val Verde (see maps at links below):

Click to access _037_SAND%20CANYON.pdf

Click to access _037_DAVENPORT.pdf

Click to access _037_SHOVEL.pdf

Click to access _037_TRUMPET.pdf

— SCVTV and SCVNews.com staff also contributed to this story.