- Saddleridge Fire has burned through over 7,500 acres of brush north of Los Angeles, spreading at a rate of 800 acres per hour because of the Santa Ana winds. It remains only 13% contained.
- Mandatory evacuation orders were put into place, affecting about 100,000 people as of Friday evening. At least 31 buildings have been destroyed, and portions of major freeways were closed.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the White House granted federal aid to assist in battling the wildfires.
- Photos depict scenes of devastation and panic from the areas where the wildfire continues to rage.
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The Saddleridge fire has burned through over 7,500 acres of brush north of Los Angeles, spreading at a rate of 800 acres per hour because of the Santa Ana winds. It remains only 13% contained.
Mandatory evacuation orders were put into place, affecting about 100,000 people as of Friday evening. At least 31 buildings have been destroyed, and portions of major freeways were closed. Over 1,000 firefighters are battling the flames, the LA Fire Department said on Friday.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said during a press conference at 5 p.m. PT that there has been at least one fire-related death after a man died of cardiac arrest.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that the White House granted federal aid to assist in battling the wildfires, saying that it will "ensure the communities grappling with this fire have the vital resources and support they need."
Photos depict scenes of devastation and panic from the areas where the wildfire continues to rage.
The Saddleridge Fire has ripped through over 7,500 acres of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. It has spread 800 acres an hour, officials said on Friday morning.
Source: Reuters
About 100,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders.
Source: Los Angeles Fire Department
The blaze began on the side of the 210 Freeway on Thursday night, in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles, less than 30 miles from downtown.
Source: Los Angeles Times
Powerful Santa Ana winds drove the flames into residential areas so quickly late Thursday night that officials couldn't warn residents.
Source: LA Times
Residents in the Granada Hills and Porter Ranch neighborhoods roused each other in the middle of the night, grabbing what they could and fleeing.
Source: LA Times
"I started knocking on all my neighbors' doors because I knew they were sleeping," Porter Ranch resident Cece Merkerson told the LA Times. "I'm banging and banging and I woke up about eight of them — and they all looked at me like I was crazy."
Source: LA Times
Over 1,000 firefighters are battling the blaze, and 13% of the fire has been contained.
Source: LAFD
Locals retreated to seven different evacuation centers.
Source: LAFD
Though the fire continues to spread, some Granada Hills residents have been able to return to the charred remains of their neighborhood.
The fire has burned at least 25 buildings and homes.
Source: LAFD
Portions of four major freeways closed on Friday.
Source: LA Times
The fires and road closures created traffic jams Thursday night and Friday morning.
Source: LA Times
Helicopters and Super Scoopers — aircraft that fly low over lakes or reservoirs and scoop up water — are trying to drown the flames.
But officials say it could take days to completely put out the blaze.
Source: LA Times / The Mercury News
"Nobody's going home right away," LA Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas told reporters at a press conference on Friday.
