Marek Fire (Video)

Posted on October 13, 2008

The Marek fire is being fanned by Santa Ana winds in the Angeles National Forest Monday morning, causing the fire it to spread beyond 3,200 acres and shut down a major Southern California freeway. Read more below.

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The Marek fire, burning on the west part of Little Tujunga Canyon, has been called a “sleeping giant” as it was fairly dormant overnight, but things quickly changed Monday morning.

Winds caused a flare-up in the Lopez Canyon area around 4:30 a.m., forcing the flames across a fire line and eventually over the 210 Foothill Freeway. Firefighters called for backup and ordered more evacuations for the Lakeview Terrace area near the 210 Freeway.

Many residents decided themselves to pack up and leave as the flames inched closer. The Marek fire was burning several mobile homes and industrial buildings.

Inspector Ron Haralson of the Los Angeles County Fire Department can’t say as of right now just how many structures were burning or how many had been destroyed.

The Foothill Freeway will remain closed both directions for about a three-mile stretch between the 118 Freeway and Interstate 5, according to the CHP. Part of the 118 Freeway was also shut down.

Firefighting aircraft were grounded due to high wind and were expected to fight the flames from above as soon as it was deemed safe. In the meantime, water dropping helicopters were being used to douse the flames.

The Marek fire started about 2 a.m. Sunday near a shooting range in the 1200 block of Little Tujunga Canyon Road, just 20 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered Sunday for Kagel and Lopez Canyons as the flames threatened about 450 homes in the area.

“It burned right down to a couple of neighborhoods,” said U.S.Forest Service spokesman Stanton Florea. More than 1,200 people were evacuated.

Firefighters are worried the high winds could send embers flying and ignite dry brush and chaparral as far as a mile away.

Over 1,000 city and county firefighters were on the scene, aided by at least six heavy helicopters and four air tankers dropping fire retardant on the blaze.

The fire was just south of the Wildlife Waystation, a nonprofit animal sanctuary and rehabilitation facility that houses more than 400 animals, including lions, bears, and deer. Officials were loading up the animals in case the fire switched directions and they had to be evacuated.

Many displaced residents were seeking shelter at San Fernando High School, 11133 O’Melveny Ave. Horses and pets were being cared for at Hansen Dam Recreation Center.

So far one house and garage were destroyed as well as three sheds and three motor homes. Other fire damage is not known at this time.

No serious injuries were immediately reported. One firefighter and one resident reported minor breathing problems.

Arson investigators told reporters at the scene that they found something suspicious so was it possible arson that began this huge fire. Thus far about 20 percent of the fire has been contained.

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