Firefighting choppers resume assault on Palos Verdes, La Canada blazes at daybreak [Updated]

[Updated at 7:47 a.m.: With daylight, the fire department launched a new aerial assault on both the Palos Verdes and La Cañada fires, hoping water-dropping choppers could knock down what's left of the fire. But officials worried about another day of arid conditions, including triple-digit temperatures forecast in some areas.]

Firefighters made modest progress overnight on two brush fires that threatened upscale homes in the Palos Verdes Peninsula and La Cañada Flintridge, but officials stressed the danger has not passed.

The two blazes were the most serious of four wildfires burning in Southern California, fueled by hot, dry conditions that are expected to continue today and through the weekend.

In Palos Verdes, more than 1,000 people had been evacuated, but firefighters said some of those evacuation orders might be lifted this morning. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said the fire was 35% contained, after helicopters continued to drop water on the fire through the early-morning hours. The fire burned at least 100 acres.

Fire officials plan to make a damage assessment. Fire Capt. Mike Brown told KTLA News that three homes were damaged and some out buildings were also burned, but that a full list won't be available until daylight. 

In the Station fire in the Angeles National Forest, firefighters cut breaks above La Cañada Flintridge in an effort to stop flames before they reached hundreds of homes in neighborhoods near Angeles Crest Highway, the U.S. Forest Service said. [Updated at 6:36 a.m.: The fire jumped Highway 2 and into the Arroyo Seco area overnight. Fire officials were concerned about homes along Starlight Crest Drive, which runs just east of Highway 2 and is adjacent to a watershed park. The blaze had burned 1,500 acres and was 10% contained.]

Around midnight, flames were about three-quarters of a mile from residential neighborhoods, the Forest Service said. Hundreds evacuated their homes.

An evacuation center, which had been designated at Crescenta Valley High School, was moved to La Cañada High School, the Forest Service said.

In Riverside County, the fire near Hemet had burned 600 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest but did not appear to be threatening homes, authorities said. 

Fire crews were making headway against the fourth fire, called the Morris fire because it began in the area of Morris Dam north of Azusa and Glendora. 

The fire, which started Tuesday, had consumed 1,700 acres and was 45% contained by Thursday evening.

In the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the Red Cross opened an evacuation center in the gym of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. A handful of residents streamed in shortly before midnight, chatting in the parking lot and crowding around a television set showing the local news.

"I'm sick," said Mary Lopes, who has lived in the Del Cerro neighborhood for 21 years. Her husband is out of town, and she evacuated when sheriff's deputies came through her neighborhood about 9:30 p.m. and urged residents to leave on their loudspeakers. "It was scary."

She packed her hard drive, family pictures, laptop and a computer.

She has seen the neighborhood survive many fires, but is especially worried about this one. "It just feels like it could come," she said. "It's more frightening."

Olga and Bob Jones, who have lived in the same neighborhood for 29 years, evacuated with their three dogs. A glowing red cloud of smoke and flames rose over the area as they left their home.

"I think it's going to be OK," Olga Jones said. "The firefighters are doing their job. They're just wonderful."

The dogs seemed undisturbed by the chaos Thursday night. "They're clueless," said Bob Jones.
The Terranea Resort, a luxury hotel perched on a coastal bluff that opened in June and where rooms are on sale right now for $264 a night, opened their hotel for free to evacuees and their pets. "We made the decision as soon as we saw the situation on the news," said spokeswoman Wendy Haase.

 Six families had checked in by 12:30 a.m. , this morning and more streamed in clutching dogs. Bellboys offered snacks for the dogs.

 Bernice and Michael Green and their labradoodle Amber were initally going to spend the night at the evacuation center at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School when they heard that there were free rooms available at the resort. "It's got to more comfortable than sleeping on a cot," Bernice Green said. 

The couple was walking their dog in the evening when they heard about the fire. 

Officials told than around 9 p.m. that there was a little smoldering; they were ordered to evacuate their Amber Sky Drive home a short while later. She was optimistic that firefighters would gain the upper hand on the blaze. "They were very confident they would have it under control and contain it," she said. "That makes me feel very comfortable." 

She recalled the community had a big party for firefighters after the last major wildfire in the area three years ago. "We just really admire them," she said. 

-- Seema Mehta in Palos Verdes Peninsula, Robert J. Lopez in Los Angeles and Richard Winton in La Cañada Flintridge

Photo: Firefighters Mike Scott, from left, Armando Pina and Joe Valencia walk up Angeles Crest Highway above La Cañada on Friday morning to assess the fire. Credit: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times

More photos

In Riverside County, the fire near Hemet had burned 600 acres in the San Bernardino National Forest but did not appear to be threatening homes, authorities said. 

Fire crews were making headway against the fourth fire, called the Morris fire because it began in the area of Morris Dam north of Azusa and Glendora. 

The fire, which started Tuesday, had consumed 1,700 acres and was 45% contained by Thursday evening.

Comments

[Richard]

Didnt I just read in the LAT that our governor signed a contract for the use of the DC-10 and 747 supertankers? Where are they? Even if the contract has not yet taken effect can't they be "hired" for these fires before homes are lost?

[MissClarity]

God bless the fireman and curse the person's that are setting these 'spontaneous fires'. People are not careful with cigerette smoking and flick ashes from cars. We need a vigilante committee which would be each and everyone of us who witness flicked ashes asses, snap a shot with our phone camera's plus license plate and report them into a special org for handling. OR we could just pull them over (having registered the evidence) and make them wish they weren't alive. Now that would be justice. Or we could just through them in the fires they start and see how they like it. You know, like a yes or no answer type thing. But no waterboarding - although. Just thinking

[MissClarity]

Oh, almost forgot. Give the smokers one glass of water and tell them after they are thrown into the fire they started that they can either drink the water or put the fire out with their one cup of water. No slurppy size cups allowed.

[sean flicker]

as of now the fire is on the southwest side of mt. lukens possibly flanking towards tujunga, but good control of the line will see its advance and cut it before it gets to Haynes canyon, where it would burn up-hill, and gain momentum. structures are in little danger unless the older tree canopy surrounding the outcropping of residences, becomes involved. as a local, and a firefighter I would say they have good urban control, so we are going to have some interesting pictures to see of scrub burning. good luck to those on the line! be safe!

[Mic]

Curious how much pollution is released every year when California goes up in flames... What is the EPA doing about making trees and houses greener when they burn?

What is it equal to, 1 burnt tree is a days worth of emissions from a car.. a year..?
What about a burned up house, perhaps equal to a thousand cars.

Any global warming whines should cease until California stops polluting the countries air.

[karen]

Thank you, Sean Flicker. I am curently in Australia and am worried sick about my family--in La Crescenta and La Canada. I have very limited access to the web and can only get updates from text sources, so your comment gave me a better idea of how that flank is burning. i am grateful. take care everyone.

[Jeff Skaggs]

@Mic - people are in danger of losing their homes, possessions, life memories, etc., and you are posting about pollution and global warming? please give me a break and get some perspective!

[Chem E]

I've noticed an interesting correlation between the start of fire season and the start of water restrictions in Southern California. Shouldn't water restrictions be in place during the winter, so that when we need the water in the summer to stop things bursting into flame, we have it?

Oh, and don't worry so much about the pollution released by houses burning. Burning pretty much takes care of all the nasty chemicals (which is how they destroy chemistry lab waste) by turning the organics into CO2 and the inorganics into inert oxides. Anything else, like particulate ash and carbon, the environmental system is designed to handle, from the larger natural fires that would occur every couple of years if we weren't here.

[cheo]

Anyone catch Terranea Resort trying to use the fire to their benefit? What idiot reporter would include an unnecessary note about Terranea's special rate of $264 per night. What does that have to do with the fire? If Terranea was on fire would they feel good if someone plugged their product white the resort was burning? Terranea is doomed to fail. see ya in foreclosure!!!

[banoli]

Hey Al, what is the going rate at the neighborhood Holiday Inn? Plus can you fill me in on what $264 will get you per night at Terranea? Does it include a free continental breakfast. Next time stick to the topic (fire) and stop plugging businesses who want to profit from other's struggles.

[Nicholas]

It's amazing and appalling that California has cut back on its firefighting budget. Those supertankers? Not coming. Cut from the budget along with billions for the schools.

This state has a bizarre anti-tax fetish that is shortchanging our children and endangering our population.

[Roman Cerar]

chopper school for european licence