Sylmar fire transforming this into the weekend from hell

Another fire so soon?

Predictably, yes.

With the Montecito Tea fire still burning, a second blaze was sparked Friday night and is now raging out of control in the northeast San Fernando Valley.

We're under assault by the most powerful, hottest and driest Santa Ana wind event of the season.

Fueled by wind gusts as strong as 70 mph, the Sylmar-area blaze, dubbed the Sayre fire, has already burned more than 2,600 acres, including several structures and possibly an entire mobile home park.

Thousands of evacuations have been ordered, and residents throughout the northern portion of the Valley should be prepared to flee. Travelers will find much of the freeway system closed.

Unfortunately, this is what can happen to homes built in canyons through which Santa Anas are delivered (see above image). All it takes is a downed power line to spark a fire, which is then swept up by those winds.

Accuweather.com meteorologist John Kocet said of current conditions: "Think of what would happen if you pounded your fist on the bottom half of a full tube of toothpaste.... The same forces apply in the atmosphere when a large amount of air is forced through smaller spaces."

Living in these areas, alas, is a gamble.

And as daytime temperatures soar, the danger will persist throughout the Southland. Fortunately, the winds are expected to subside this afternoon, but a Santa Ana condition will linger through at least Sunday.

Good luck, everyone.

-- Pete Thomas

Image: accuweather.com

Comments

[Jon K.]

When I was a child, we didn't have these devastating fire seasons every year. This is simply the result of over-population. People have moved into increasingly dangerous areas due to fire or earthquake danger. We've got 36 million citizens/legal residents in this state and another 4-8 million illegal aliens here in a state that should have a maximum healthy population of 20 million and a high quality of life population of 9 million. It sucks. The beauty of the state and richness of its culture has literally attracted so many people that it is physically, culturally and experientially destroying California itself. It sucks. The most obvious amelioration of the situation is the get rid of all the illegal aliens. We have such population pressures as it is, we don't need 8 million people living in the shadows are further enflating the population pressues that already exist.

[JOURnalism chICK]

I found out about this fire around 11 o'clock that night, I was amazed at the view I had from my street. The fire actually did look like the area that begun burning was turning to hell. I had been out an hour before and I never thought that 1 hour later a fire would spark. I also had been at Sylmar High School for a football game friday night, not knowing that later on that night it would soon become an evacuation center. The winds had been very strong that night, making the fire spread more easily, it has gone pretty far. Thankfully its 30-40% contained so far. My heart goes out to all those who lost their homes, it was a sad and unexpected loss for them.

[ERIC]

Fire Cleanups should be photographed before cleaning. Your insurance company will make you prove every aspect of your fire loss. www.firstclaimpa.com

[tiffany]

it really breaks my heart seeing all these fires happen in los angeles like i cant believe that our city is getting destroyed because of these fires how can some people be soo careless people have lost their homes and also children i am very concerned with this big event

[doris conaway]

after 133 days i still have not returned to my home in the oakridge mobile home park, this is too bad. my home is not damaged, but a combination of factors including confusion about the clean-up of the park have left me locked out and upset. the park is being treated in a special manner, and so are those who could move back there. they are all on hold, while those in charge try to get their acts together. am i upset, certainly. every street in my area has been cleaned and cleared, yet i am still here in the holiday inn express with no opportunity to inspect, visit, or even walk to my home. it is a precious few minutes we have, why are they wasting mine?

[doris conaway]

there is no reason we can't go to our homes today, i am being treated with no respect for my personal property. the fire has been out for 158 days and i can't can't get to my home. who ever heard of such a wait.! not one official has contacted me to find out what they can do to help, they just want to ignore me. this lock out is not suitable, especially since there is no further activity in the park.