Sand Fire: More Drone Woes; State Of Emergency Issued; Animal Fundraisers Underway; Containment At 40% [Wednesday Update]

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA – With the majority of evacuated residents back home today, fire crews are working to add to their hard-fought progress against the deadly Sand Fire in the Santa Clarita area.

About 3,000 firefighters were on the lines working to knock down the blaze, which began Friday afternoon near Sand Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, along the northbound Antelope Valley (14) Freeway.

National Weather Service data indicate humidity in the Acton area was 30 to 35 percent overnight, which could benefit firefighters.

As of this morning, the fire had scorched 38,346 acres and was 40 percent contained, fire officials said.
Eighteen homes were destroyed, one structure was damaged, the fire destroyed a western town set on the Sable Ranch -- a well-known filming location -- two firefighters suffered minor injuries battling the flames, and one man was killed when he reportedly refused order to evacuate.

Although an estimated 20,000 people were evacuated as the fire raged, most evacuation orders were lifted at 7 p.m. Monday. The orders remain in effect for residents of Little Tujunga Road from the Wildlife Waystation to Sand Canyon Road and Placerita Canyon Road, according to officials at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station.

Only residents are allowed back into the areas where evacuations were lifted, so people are asked to show identification.

Officials at the Wildlife Waystation in Sylmar expect the facility to be reopened this afternoon, and its stock of lions, tigers, bears, hyenas, cougars and other animals will be returned to the sanctuary.

Sheriff's officials also warned people not to fly drones in the fire zone, noting incursions of drones into the fire zone occurred over the weekend - - forcing a halt to aerial firefighting efforts until the air space was cleared. Deputies were trying to locate and stop the intrusions.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Daryl Osby, appearing before the county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, said fire crews have managed to save "thousands of structures."

Osby said crews are still seeing "erratic fire behavior" and winds, but he said the vegetation fueling the fire was lighter as the blaze moved toward the Agua Dulce area, making it easier for crews to work with hand tools in the area and extend containment lines.

The Board of Supervisors ratified a local emergency declaration that was issued by the county on Monday. The declaration is the first step in acquiring state funding to help fire-recovery efforts.

Hours after the board's vote on Tuesday, acting Gov. Tom Torlakson officially declared a state of emergency to free up state resources.

Torlakson, the state superintendent of public instruction, is acting governor while Gov. Jerry Brown and other state officials are attending the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

The Board of Supervisors also called for a report on the county's aerial firefighting fleet, including a discussion on whether it should purchase or secure a year-round lease on additional aircraft, including possibly a SuperScooper.

The county leases SuperScooper aircraft from Canada during fire season, but they are not expected to arrive in the area until September. Supervisor Michael Antonovich said the LACFD will receive an S-64F Helitanker HT-731 on Monday, two weeks earlier than expected.

The coroner's office on Tuesday identified the man whose burned body was found in a car in the driveway of a house in the burn area -- and who apparently refused orders to evacuate. The body of Robert Bresnick, 67, was discovered at 7:20 p.m. Saturday in the 26700 block of Iron Canyon Road, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

"Evidently, he did not want to evacuate," Winter said. An autopsy was pending to determine the cause of the man's death, which was being classified as an accident.

Winter said Bresnick, whose hometown was not known, was visiting a friend at the location, and had been advised by authorities to leave. The friend left, but Bresnick did not, Winter said.

Three firefighters lost their homes in the fire. Two of them were initially battling the Sand Fire, and one lost his home while he was in San Diego County battling a blaze at Camp Pendleton.

With most evacuations lifted, an evacuation center at the Lakeview Terrace Recreation Center at 11075 Foothill Drive in Sylmar was closed. Two others -- at Highland High School at 39055 25th Street West in Palmdale and at Hart High School at 24825 Newhall Ave. in Santa Clarita -- remained open, the Red Cross announced.

The blaze has been fueled by triple-digit temperatures along with gusty winds and vegetation left dry thanks to the region's five-year drought. Officials said some areas affected have not burned in decades, leaving terrain covered with dry chaparral that pushed the fire forward like a freight train.

The Wildlife Waystation in Sylmar is preparing for the return of its wildlife today, as hundreds of animals displaced by the raging Sand Fire continue to be housed at various county shelters.

According to the county Department of Animal Care and Control, there were 837 evacuated animals in area shelters as of Tuesday, up by about 70 from the previous day.

The displaced animals included 377 horses, 157 goats, 117 chickens and 34 pigs. Llama, mules, sheep, rabbits, turkeys and donkeys were also among the critters being overseen at shelters including the Antelope Valley Fair Grounds, Hansen Dam and Pierce College. Smaller animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits,hamsters and guinea pigs were being cared for at county animal shelters in Lancaster, Agoura, Castaic and Palmdale. Temporary shelter facilities have also been established at evacuation centers.

A GoFundMe "Wildlife Waystation Fire Relief" drive is underway, as sanctuary managers turn to the public to help offset the costly efforts of moving and boarding the animals during the fire.

"Once we do receive notification that it is safe bring our frightened animals back home, replenishing supplies and making sure their environments are safe will be imperative and our top priority ... and also will be very costly," sanctuary officials said. "We are spending an enormous amount of resources to closely monitor, feed, water and medicate our animals at their temporary rescue sites. We need your help."

Read more details on the Wildlife Waystation fund here.

A Los Angeles County spokeswoman, meanwhile, said residents looking for ways to help displaced animals can donate to Noah's Legacy. "We have received many generous donations of feed and supplies for our pets. Many people have asked what more they can do to help,'' DACC Director Marcia Mayeda said. "We are fortunate to have a foundation that has established a fund called Noah's Legacy for emergency response.''

Money from that fund has been used to buy "Ani-safe'' trailers, one of which is being used on the campus of Hart High School to house animals rescued from the fire. Donations may be made at www.lacountyanimals.org. Details here.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended a smoke advisory until midnight tonight for portions of the Santa Clarita Valley and the San Gabriel Mountains. Air quality could reach unhealthy levels, or higher, in areas directly impacted by smoke, the agency said. Residents in those areas are advised to stay indoors, and to avoid using swamp coolers or wood-burning appliances.

Freeway, traffic and commuter updates:

• The Escondido and Soledad Canyon Road exits of the northbound Antelope Valley Freeway remained closed.
• Sand Canyon Road was closed south of Placerita Canyon Road.
• Agua Dulce Canyon Road was closed to all nonresidents at the 14 Freeway, and closed to everyone at Soledad Canyon Road. Little Tujunga Canyon Road was closed north of the Wildlife Waystation.
• In Acton, Soledad Canyon Road was closed at Bootlegger Road.
• The public can follow the latest announcements about the fire online at inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4878/.
• Metrolink announced there would be no service at least one more day to and from the Vincent Grade/Acton, Palmdale or Lancaster stations.
• Train service was operating between Via Princessa and downtown Los Angeles only, Metrolink officials said.
• There will be no bus bridges between the Palmdale and Lancaster stations.

From Tuesday: Sand Fire Latest: Blaze Spreads, But Containment Improves [Tuesday Update]

From Monday: Sand Fire Latest: 10,000 Homes With 20,000 Residents Evacuated; 2,000 Houses Threatened

Also see: Drone, Again, Halts Water Drop Over Sand Fire

— City News Service contributed to this report/Images via Angeles_NF‏@Angeles_NF on Twitter, Wildlife Waystation animal sanctuary on Facebook