Firefighters battling Southern California blazes

ERIC LINDBERG
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER

Fierce Santa Ana winds whipped up a slew of wildfires throughout Southern California, including a brush fire on Sedgwick Ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley that scorched more than 750 acres since Sunday morning.
As of this evening, fire crews had the fire 50 percent contained. Residents of the Woodstock community reported seeing 50-foot flames at just after 6 a.m. yesterday in the steep, rolling hills of Sedgwick Reserve.

Fire officials issued an evacuation warning for the region, County Fire Capt. Eli Iskow said, but no structures are immediately threatened.
"Right now, everything is holding fine," Capt. Iskow said at around 4 p.m., adding that winds are topping out at 15 mph and are "not bad at all."
However, weather forecasts called for a shift of winds out of the north that may make fighting that blaze difficult, he said. About 200 firefighters battled the flames today and were expected to stay through the night.
“Winds are supposed to start to pick up again,” County Fire Engineer Russ Sechler said. “We’ll have to keep a close eye on this one.”
No determination has been made as to what sparked the fire, which started near the Los Padres ranger station on Figueroa Mountain Road. Capt. Iskow said the Live Oak camp, used as the staging area during the two-month battle against the Zaca Fire, will be reopened as a precautionary measure. Santa Barbara County's Emergency Operations Center was also activated yesterday.
Bulldozers and hand crews worked throughout the day to build direct and indirect fire lines as air tankers and helicopters dropped fire retardant and water from above as wind conditions remained favorable. Two strike teams of structure protection engines also moved in around residences.
"All efforts are focused on building and reinforcing containment lines around the south and west of the fire ahead of possibly worsening weather conditions," Capt. Iskow said.
Strong winds are expected to continue throughout Southern California until Tuesday, with 30 to 40 mph winds in mountain and valley regions that may build to 70 mph gusts, National Weather Service officials said.
"All the way out to Tuesday afternoon, we have wind warnings in effect," NWS Spokesman Bill Hoffer said. "...We have these winds every year at this time, just at different strengths."
Fire officials issued a Red Flag Alert through Tuesday afternoon due to gusty winds, low humidity and warm temperatures that are creating the potential for explosive fire growth. Depending on overnight humidity recovery and wind conditions, that alert may be extended through Wednesday, fire officials said.
"In my 29 years, it's butting up against the worst I've seen," Hoffer said of the Santa Ana winds. "They've been right up there."
On Saturday, dark brown clouds reminiscent of ash and smoke plumes from the Zaca Fire descended on the Santa Barbara coast as heavy winds kicked up ash and dirt from the exposed slopes of Santa Barbara's back country. A fire burning near Piru in Ventura County may also send clouds of smoke into coastal areas, prompting Santa Barbara County Health officials to extend a health advisory issued Saturday.
"South Coast residents are advised to remain indoors, minimize time spent outdoors, and limit prolonged or heavy exertion while outdoors," according to a health department statement. "Residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed."
More than a dozen blazes — according to some news reports — from Santa Barbara County to the U.S.-Mexico border sparked up this afternoon.
Heavy winds are fueling the Canyon Fire near Malibu that burned at least 1,200 acres and damaged nine homes, a church and five commercial buildings since early Sunday morning, also causing power outages along the coast and prompting the evacuation of Pepperdine University and Piuma Canyon residents.
State officials deployed strike teams and firefighting aircraft to the scene of the Canyon Fire as well as a large wildfire northeast of Castaic, another in the Agua Dulce area along Highway 14, and the Sedgwick Fire.
"My administration is working closely with federal and local officials; we will continue to mobilize the necessary resources to fight all of these fires," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a prepared statement. "I am continuously receiving briefings on the situation and have committed to sending additional personnel and equipment, if needed, as well as setting up evacuation centers to help those who have been displaced from their homes."
A handful of multimillion-dollar homes have been destroyed by the Canyon Fire, according to a Reuters news report. Castle Kashan, a Malibu landmark, was completely engulfed by flames, but firefighters managed to save many of the valuables and historic memorabilia.
"We were in the house and the fire was burning all around us," owner Lilly Lawrence told Reuters. "...The loss is way up in the double-digit millions."
No cause had been determined for the Canyon Fire, although there has been speculation that downed power lines may have sparked the blaze in tinder-dry brush in the Santa Monica mountains above Malibu. As of this evening, fire crews had no containment of the blaze, which is expected to last several days and threaten thousands of homes, according to the news report.
More homes were destroyed in the Santa Clarita Valley community of Agua Dulce as a wind-driven fire ripped through dry brush Sunday, according to a L.A. Daily News report. About 400 residents in that area have been evacuated as flames continue to spread in 30-mph winds, Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Randy Alva told the Daily News.
"We are bumping up manpower and equipment to Santa Clarita," Capt. Alva said. "The guys are doing everything they can to stop this fire."
Embers from that blaze later sparked a 10,000-acre inferno in Canyon Country, a community northwest of Santa Clarita where 3,800 homes are in danger, fire officials said. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for that area and several structures had been lost as of this evening.
Fire officials said Sedgwick Ranch and Woodstock residents should keep an eye on weather conditions and check in regularly with media for alert updates. Capt. Iskow said residents should expect a reverse 911 call or authorities going neighborhood to neighborhood announcing a mandatory evacuation order, if it becomes necessary. People traveling near Sedgwick Ranch should use care along Figueroa Mountain Road due to heavy fire equipment in the region, he added.
Santa Barbara County Animal Services announced a hotline, 681-4332, for those in the area of the Sedgwick Fire who need help transporting or sheltering animals.