As many of you know, the Santa Clarita Sand Fire still rages as firefighters desperately try to contain the blaze. The fire started along the 14 Freeway near Sand Canyon (hence the name Sand Fire) and quickly destroyed 18 structures and claimed the life of one individual. As the fire spread, over 10,000 homes were evacuated and the acting Governor Tom Torlakson declared a state of emergency over Los Angeles County on July 26th.
There are over 3,000 firefighters attempting to contain the fire, and while they’re making progress, the work is slow-going. Attempts are being made to squelch the blaze by firefighters on the ground, as well as by air via helicopters. As of the writing of this article, the fire is nearly 40% contained and continues to move.
For such a powerful and devastating fire, the damages have thus far been relatively minimal. 18 homes were destroyed, 2 firefighters were treated for minor injuries, and the single casualty was a result of failing to heed evacuation orders. Unfortunately, forces of nature like this are unpredictable, at best, and there’s no telling what, if any, additional damage will occur before the blaze is 100% contained.
Many of those evacuated have been cleared to return home, with a few exceptions. For those who have been cleared to return, the LASD has issued a couple tips:
- Check for and take photographs of any damages to your home for insurance purposes
- Maintain a “fire watch” for several hours after returning home; errant embers, ashes and sparks can reignite the fire. If caught early, firefighters can extinguish the baby blaze before it grows into something much more devastating.
- Employ extreme caution when/if you enter any area that was burned by the fire. Hazards may still exist, and flareups can happen at any time. If you see or smell smoke, leave the area immediately.