Missing Hikers Are Clear Of Powerhouse Fire; 1,000 Acres Burned

Posted by: Perry Smith in Santa Clarita News May 29, 2013 - 4:25 pm 0 272 Views

Firefighters are battling a 1,000-acre fire off San Francisquito Canyon Road, near Clearwater Canyon Road, in the Angeles National Forest throughout the night, according to fire officials.

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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 10:30 p.m. Thursday night.

Residents in the Green Valley community in the Angeles National Forest were able to return to their home around 10 p.m., according to a Palmdale Sheriff’s Station official.

“The evacuations have been lifted,” said Lt. Steve Sylvies. “There are no longer any hikers missing.”

Fire officials estimated the blaze at “1,000-plus acres” at about 9:30 p.m., but the fire is difficult to map at night, making an updated acreage unavailable until Friday morning, said Supervisor Michael Pittman.

“It’s harder to map at night,” Pittman said, adding that there have been no injuries and the fire has continued to burn in a northwesterly direction, away from any homes.

“As of about 9 p.m., it was about a quarter-mile from the city of Green Valley,” Pittman said.

He added that fire crews expected to work through the night on the blaze that started around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

ORIGINAL STORY

“It’s got a rapid rate of spread, and it’s burning uphill,” said John Wagner, United States Forest Service spokesman. “The name of the fire is the Powerhouse Fire.”

A Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman said firefighters likely will be fighting the blaze all night long.

There are conflicting reports as to how many hikers may have been in the area when the fire was initially reported, according to officials.

Initially, six hikers were reported missing, which were believed to be on the Palmdale Station’s side of the fire.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies downtown confirmed that all six hikers in the Palmdale area were found. They were taken to Green Valley Fire Station.

The fire has been burning in a northwestern direction. One structure has been damaged, a LADWP building.

Northbound Copper Canyon Road is closed near Spunky Canyon Road, according to Lt. Harris of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

At least 100 homes have been evacuated, according to Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials.

“They’re evacuating the residents at Green Valley, which is up there by the National Forest,” said Deputy Pratchard.

A fire broke out near the LADWP Power Plant 1 in San Francisquito Canyon at 3:28 p.m. Thursday.

Although no water or power service has been affected, LADWP is monitoring the situation vigilantly and will take appropriate action as needed to ensure water and power service is not interrupted.

At least 100 residents have been evacuating from the housing community, which is at the intersection of Spunky Canyon Road and San Francisquito Canyon Road.

“The Palmdale Sheriff’s Station is taking the lead on the evacuations,” Pratchard said.

“The fire started at the boundary line of Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and the Palmdale station, but the bulk of it is burning near the Palmdale station.”

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials and U.S. Forest Service officials are part of approximately 300 units on the scene now.

There is no percentage of containment at this time, according to USFS officials.

There are road closures in the area, according to Lt. Rush of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

“San Francisquito Canyon Road is closed to north- and southbound traffic from Copper Hill to near Lake Elizabeth Road,” Rush said.

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies are assisting Palmdale units with the evacuations.

This has been the seventh multi-acre incident in the Santa Clarita Valley in the last five days.

According to a statement from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power:
The fire was first observed by a power plant station operator burning just north of the Power Plant 1 near San Francisquito Canyon Road. The Los Angeles County Fire Department, which has a camp nearby, responded to the fire.

LADWP officials said no water or power supplies have been affected at this time, though crews are monitoring the situation closely.