Sylmar fire moving west -- fast

The fire is being pushed by winds past the 5 Freeway toward Porter Ranch, into an area burned by last month's Sesnon fire.

Evacuations now extend west to Reseda Boulevard. The L.A. Fire Department said 10,000 people in total had been ordered to evacuate. A mobile home park in Sylmar is on fire.

"The fire is ripping and tearing through everything," said the LAFD's Michael Bowman.

The path of the fire fits a common pattern for blazes driven by Santa Ana winds in the San Fernando Valley. The question: How far west will the fire go? The Sesnon blaze roared to Ventura County, and others have marched toward the 101 Freeway and even to Malibu. Others get stopped in their tracks.

Latest fire details here.

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Karin]

We had a big fire in the South of France some years ago. Many huses and nature have been destroyed. This is terrific and I can imagine what people are living just now at LA. All my compassion for you.

[lisa solana]

I am a single mother with two young children 8 and6. there father is homeless and phoneless. WE JUST LOST OUR LAST PLACE IN THE SESNON FIRE ON 10/13/2008 WE LIVED IN THE SUMMERSET VILLAGE APARTMENTS.THEY WERE NOT REPORTED TO THE MEDIA OR THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND SAFETY. IT WAS 7 DAYS LATER WHEN THE DEPT OF BUILDING AND SAFETY WERE INORMED OF OUR LOSS AND WENT OUT AND ASSESSED OUR DAMAGES. ACCORDING TO THE DEPT. (YES I HAVE NAMES)MY APARTMENT WAS 92% RED TAGGED. THE REGIONAL MANAGER EMAILED ME. THYE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING AND SAFETY SAID MY APARTMENT WAS REPORTED BY THE CITY FIRE DEPARTMANT NOT THE COUNTY. THAT IS WHY IT TOOK THEM SO LONG TO VERIFY. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF WE HAD AN EARTHQUAKE? mY NEIGHBOR IS MENTALLY RETARDED. HE NEEDS ASSISTANCE. THE REGIONAL MANAGER INSISTED IN WRITING THAT I VACATE THE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY OR HE WILL CHARGE ME ALL CONTRACTORS FEES AND DOUBLE RENT EVERY DAY I DELay him to DEMOLISH THE BUILDING. ON TOP OF THAT HE RE ROUTED ELCTRICITY AND WATER TO THE OTHER END OF THE BUILDING IN ORDER TO KEEP OTHER RESIDENCE IN PLACE. THIS I8 UNACCEPTABLE.. i JUST MOVED MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF TO SESNON AND TAMPA. GO FIGURE ANOTHER FIRE. NO INSURANCE. i LOOK OUT ME WINDOW AND SEE THE FIRE. i CALLED SECURITY AND THEY VERIFIES THE FIRE.
i JUST WANT TO BE SAFE. THE CHURCH (SHERHARD OF THE HILLS) AND COMMUNITY NORHTRIDGE LITTLE LEAGUE HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL.
HAVE BEEN SO PROACTIVE AND LET ME TELL YOU CONGRESSNMAN SHERMAN'S OFFICE HAS BEEN THE MOST HELPFUL AND PROACTIVE.
eSPECIALLY LISA IN THE OFFICE. IF ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE THIS HARDSHIP CALL HER AND SHE WILL BE THERE AND FOLLOW UP. i WAS QUITE IMPRESSED. oN A NEGATIVE NOTE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DECLARED A DISASTER. iT DID NOT CHANGE THE GOV. AGENCIES GUIDELINES AND MOST WERE UNABLE TO HELP VICTIMS OF THE FIRE. PLAEAS HELP THE FUTURE VICTIMS AS THERE ARE MANY AND YOUR AGENCIES HANDS WILL BE TIDE UNLESS SOMEONE RELEASES THEM.

lISA sOLANA
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