3 Firefighters Hurt; 12 Homes Burned In Santa Clarita Brushfire

SANTA CLARITA, CA — A brush fire scorched about 10 acres of vegetation, injured three firefighters and spread to more than a dozen homes in Santa Clarita Monday.

The three firefighters were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries suffered in the blaze, which was reported at 4:18 p.m. in the 20900 block of Via Estrella, north of Newhall Avenue and west of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Flames roared uphill through thick brush toward a pair of apartment complexes as helicopter crews made water drops and ground crews moved in to protect the structures. One broadcast report showed a deputy kicking in a door of a home in a condominium complex where flames engulfed one building.

An hour after the blaze was first reported, crews had made substantial progress in dousing most of the open flames, but black smoke and fire could be seen coming from the roof of an apartment complex. Fire crews on the scene worked to contain the flames to the attic area of the building off Alder Drive.

A second apartment complex on Alder Drive also sustained damage on a lower floor, according to a report from the scene.

In all, 13 homes were affected, the county fire department reported.

The fire's spread was halted about 6:15 p.m. with about 10 acres burned. Containment was at 85 percent at about 9:15 p.m., authorities said.

An evacuation center was set up at Golden Valley High School for those affected by the fire.

As crews battled the blaze, a second brush fire, this one about a quarter-acre in size, broke out in the area of the Antelope Valley Freeway and Sand Canyon Road, but water drops made quick work of the flames.

Newhall Avenue was closed between Sierra Highway and Railroad Avenue and Dockweiler Drive was closed at Sierra Highway, according to the sheriff's department, which advised motorists to use Golden Valley Road as an alternate route.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. PLEASE REFRESH THE SCREEN FOR UPDATES.

City News Service. File Photo: Shutterstock