All Rye Fire Evacuations And Closures Lifted

SANTA CLARITA, CA — Firefighters continued Thursday building lines around the Rye Fire, a 3-day-old wind-driven blaze in Santa Clarita that caused burn injuries to a firefighter and was 25 percent contained Thursday evening after scorching 7,000 acres, authorities said.

The fire, which broke out about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday near the 2500 block of Rye Canyon Loop, destroyed one structure and threatened 5,460 others, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The injured firefighter, who may have been a camp crew member, was airlifted to a burn center for treatment, officials said.

All evacuations and road closures issued as a result of the fire have been lifted, and the College of the Canyons evacuation site has been deactivated, officials said.

About 900 firefighters from the Ventura County and Los Angeles County fire departments were on scene attacking the fire on Thursday, according to Cal Fire officials.

"Firefighters continue to build and reinforce containment lines," which continued to be tested by strong winds, according to a Cal Fire statement.

Residents of the Valencia Travel Village RV park at 27946 Henry Mayo Drive in Castaic began returning to their homes after evacuations were lifted Wednesday.

The fire prompted the evacuation of about 5,000 people from about 1,300 homes and the closure of sections of the Golden State (5) Freeway and state Route 126.

The Golden State Freeway was temporarily closed in both directions near state Route 126, but the freeway reopened by mid-afternoon Tuesday.

Authorities reminded residents that the Disaster Distress Helpline, a 24- hour national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for those affected by the fires, is available at (800) 985-5990.

With hot and windy conditions expected for several days, authorities instructed residents to call 911 if they see smoke.

Full containment of the fire was expected on Dec. 15, according to Cal Fire.

City News Service; (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)