50,000 Forced From Homes as Tick Fire Burns Thousands of Acres in Santa Clarita

More than 50,000 people were ordered to evacuate from their homes, freeways were shut down and schools were closed as a brush fire erupted in Santa Clarita, swallowing homes Thursday amid high winds and hot conditions.

Evacuations were ordered in the more than 3,000-acre Tick Fire in the Santa Clarita area as the 14 Freeway and 5 Freeway in Castaic were subject to closures, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

San Diego Firefighter Killed in Battle Against Thomas Fire

A second fire, originally dubbed the Old Fire, began burning miles away near the 5 Freeway in Castaic. Several homes were burning as embers carried by wind landed on roofs, and ignited the structures. About 7 acres had burned by 4 p.m., but fire officials said that spot fire was being considered part of the Tick Fire.

The Tick Fire, first reported in the 31600 block of Tick Canyon Road, burned a couple hundred acres before erupting and eating through more than 3,000 acres within hours.

How Small ‘Controlled Fires’ Can Prevent Monster Infernos

Several structures were already ablaze, as the line of fire quickly advanced on another home, with firefighters poised to protect it.

The Gentle Barn, an animal protection organization on a farm located at 15825 Sierra Highway, was also being forced to evacuate.

LIST: California’s 10 Largest Wildfires

Mandatory Evacuations

South of Vasquez
East of Whites/Plum Canyon
South of Vasquez Canyon
West of Agua Dolce
South of 14 freeway
North of the 14 Frwy
East of Sand Canyon,
North of Placerita Canyon,
West of Robinson Ranch Golf Course.
North & East of Soledad @ Whites Canyon
North & East of Whites Canyon
North & East of Plum Canyon
West of Sequoia Rd
Davenport Road, East of Sierra Hwy, including all the streets off of Davenport
Update: 6:04 p.m. PST – Sand Canyon is now under voluntary evacuations. CHP will be checking IDs to allow residents in.
Update 5:48 p.m. PST – Fair Oaks Ranch is under voluntary evacuations.

Road and Freeway Closures

Northbound lanes of the 14 Freeway were closed along with Soledad Canyon Road offramps on both the north and southbound sides.

Evacuation Centers

College of the Canyons main campus in Valencia in the gym. Newhall Community Center.
Large animals and livestock shelter: Pierce College.
Small animal shelter: Castaic Animal Care Center

School Closures

All outdoor and after-school activities were canceled at Canyon High School due to the blaze.
Classes after 5 p.m. at Moorpark College were closed due to air quality concerns.
All Hart District Schools, Saugus School District and Newhall School District were to be closed Friday.
Both campuses at College of the Canyons, Valencia and Canyon Country campuses, were closed Thursday afternoon.
Primetime Preschool canceled Friday.

Meteorologists said Santa Ana winds were gusting 45-55 mph near the so-called Tick Fire.

The fire comes as some 80 homes were evacuated overnight in San Bernardino County as a 70-acre blaze forced road closures. A 10,000-acre blaze was also burning in the Bay Area.

Utility companies including SoCal Edison preemptively cut power to thousands of homes Thursday in an effort to diminish the threat of wildfires. See all locations here.

For a list of what to pack in an emergency bag and other fire prevention tips, click here.

Photo Credit: NBCLA
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Source: NBC Los Angeles