Powerhouse Fire North Of Santa Clarita Continues To Burn
CASTAIC (CBSLA.com)— Authorities Saturday said the Powerhouse Fire has prompted a new round of evacuations along Lake Hughes Road.
Officials said the blaze in the San Francisquito Canyon remained at 15 percent containment after blackening approximately 3,662 acres.
The new orders included the 41600 Block of Lake Hughes Road north to the Mendenhall Probation camp. The U.S. Forest Service also reported on their incident information system page that two probation camps and the Cottonwood campground were evacuated.
Firefighters were aggressively fighting the flames from the ground and the air in an effort to keep flames away from homes and power lines in Green Valley. Temperatures near 100 degrees were expected in the Angeles National Forest along with dry, high winds.
Flames broke out Thursday prompting two previous evacuations. The second was ordered Friday after a large flare-up.
A Red Cross evacuation center at Marie Kerr Park in Palmdale (39700 30th Street West) remained open.
Small animals were being taken to the L.A. County Department of Animal Care & Control, 5210 West Avenue I in Lancaster, and the Castaic Animal Shelter at 31044 N. Charlie Canyon Road.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said an evacuation center for large animals has been set up at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (Gate 3) at 2551 West Avenue H.
Authorities also said additional road closures have been ordered in Castaic at Lake Hughes Road and Lake Hughes Road to Elizabeth Lake Road. San Francisquito Canyon Road at Copper Hill remained open to residents only.
The fire was being fueled by heavy brush and chaparral in steep terrain. Full containment of the blaze isn't expected until June 5.
Officials said the vegetation in the area has not burned for more than 30 years, and thus far, only one utility structure has been destroyed. One firefighter was injured when a rock fell on his leg.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
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