Sand Fire: 1 Dead; 33,000 Acres Burned; Evacuations Ordered for Fast-Moving Los Angeles County Blaze

SANTA CLARITA, CA — Smoke and ash filled the skies in the mountains above Los Angeles as the ever-growing Sand Fire continued to explode over the weekend, growing to 33,117 acres on Sunday, forcing residents out of their homes and causing at least one fatality.

• Click here for the latest updates on the fire.

The fire remains at 10 percent containment as firefighters battle the blaze in soaring temperatures, low humidity, steep terrain and fast-moving winds. More than 1,600 fire personnel are currently engaged in the firefighting effort that is threatening 1,500 homes and 100 commercial structures. A repopulation plan for some residents in the area was abandoned due to unexpected winds and evacuations were also issued for residents in the Acton area, who had been asked to stay on high alert.

According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department incident page, a total of 18 homes have been destroyed and damaged in the Sand Canyon and Bear Divide areas. Additionally, the Sable Ranch old western town film set, commonly used in films and television shows, was destroyed in the blaze.

While more than 1,600 firefighters work to contain the blaze, homicide detectives are investigating the discovery of a body found near the fire.The body was found in the 26700 block of Iron Canyon Road at about about 7:20 p.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputy Lisa Jansen said.

"The victim was pronounced dead at the scene," Jansen said.

Homicide detectives were investigating the death, she said. At a press conference Sunday, officials confirmed the death was fire-related. The victim's age and identity were being withheld pending notification of kin.

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Air quality throughout the region is poor due to the smoke, and residents are advised to stay indoors with the windows closed.

A repopulation plan for some residents of Sand Canyon who would have been allowed to return around 1 p.m. was abandoned due to unexpected winds.

Residents of Sand Canyon were initially asked to evacuate due to the threat of the fire moving north on Saturday that authorities say, "came through like a freight train."

Meanwhile, new evacuations have been ordered for residents of Acton. Mandatory evacuations are in place for those who live on Agua Dulce Canyon Road north to the 14 freeway and Crown Valley Road north to the 14 freeway. All of Soledad Canyon in between has also been evacuated.

Below is the updated list of evacuations:

• East of the 14 Freeway, from Golden Valley Road to Sand Canyon Road, excluding the Sand Canyon Mobile Home Park (residents to evacuate; commercial businesses to shelter in place)
• East side of Via Princessa from Lost Canyon Road to end of Via Princessa and all streets east
• Lost Canyon Road from Via Princessa to the Santa Clara River, and all streets to the east
• Sierra Highway at Shady Lane to Sierra Highway at the 14
• Escondido at the 14 to Sierra Highway at the 14
• Agua Dulce Canyon Road north to the 14 Freeway
• Crown Valley Road north to the 14 Freeway
• Soledad Canyon Road between Agua Dulce and Crown Valley
• All residents in Sand Canyon from Lost Canyon to Bear Divide
• All residents in Placerita Canyon from the Nature Center to Sand Canyon
• Little Tujunga from Bear Divide to LA River Ranger District (Station), 12371 Little Tujunga Canyon Road

The following evacuations centers have been established for impacted residents:

• Lakeview Terrace Recreation Center located at 11075 Foothill Blvd. in Lakeview Terrace
• Golden Valley High School located at 27051 Robert C. Lee Parkway in Santa Clarita
• Hart High School, located at 24825 Newhall Ave. in Santa Clarita
• Highland High School, located at 39055 25th Street, in West Palmdale

Three evacuations shelters have also been set up for animals:

• Golden Valley High School located at 27051 Robert C. Lee Parkway in Santa Clarita (for pets and small animals)
• Hansen Dam Equestrian Center located at 11127 Orca Ave in Sylmar (large animal shelter at capacity)
• Pierce College located at 6201 Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills (large animal shelter)

• Sand Canyon and Soledad Canyon - no entry into Sand Canyon. No access to Sand Canyon at northbound 14 Freeway
• Sand Canyon and Lost Canyon - no traffic into Sand Canyon
• Placerita Canyon and the 14 Freeway - no traffic into Placerita Canyon
• Soledad Canyon Road eastbound from the 14 Freeway
• Agua Dulce Canyon Road eastbound from the 14 Freeway
• Crown Valley Road eastbound from the 14 Freeway
• Sand Canyon Road east of Placerita Canyon to 12300 Little Tujunga

A map with the latest evacuation areas, road closures and shelters is below.

Temperatures in the area are expected to reach a high of 97 degrees Sunday, a mild relief from the high of 105 degrees Saturday. A red flag warning is currently in effect, with the National Weather Service warning that the combination of heat and wind will bring dangerous fire weather conditions to mountain areas. Visibility in the area is expected to be better today allowing for more air drops, assisting firefighters on the ground. Weather conditions are expected to move the fire in a northeasterly direction.

With the area mired in the fifth year of a drought, there is dry vegetation that hasn't burned in nearly as long.

“When we talk about extreme fire behavior,” Carol Smith, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service told the Los Angeles Times, “this is what we mean.”

The Los Angeles Fire Department sent a water-dropping helicopter to join four from the county fire department. Eight fixed-wing firefighting aircraft were also called in to attack the blaze. Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service were also assisting in the firefight.

Northbound lanes of the freeway were temporarily closed south of Soledad Canyon Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. Road closures are once again in place on the freeway.

Metrolink reported that service on its Antelope Valley line was halted at the Via Princessa station for about an hour. Speed restrictions remain in place for the train service, leading to delays.

Smoke from the fire was moving southeast into the San Gabriel Valley "due to gusty northwest winds aloft," according to the National Weather Service.

Smoke was also visible above downtown Los Angeles.

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said it's important to recognize that more than 90 percent of wildfires are caused by humans.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report

Image credits: SCV Sheriff, Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations, LA County Fire Department