California wildfires - live: Thousands forced to evacuate as blaze spreads outside of LA

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Wind-driven fires threaten California homes

Wildfires have forced thousands to evacuate northern Los Angeles communities, after a blaze spread from 60 acres to 1,600 acres within hours.

The fire in northern Los Angeles has been dubbed the Saddleridge Brush Fire, and is among at least two blazes of concern. The other fire was sparked by burning trash dropped by a dump truck in Riverside County, around 70 miles east of Los Angeles.

The Saddlebridge evacuation area includes at least 1,600 homes, and reportedly impacts around 100,000 residents.

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Key Points

• Blazes are among around 275 wildfires that have broken out across the state, as peak fire season begins
• MAP: Where these Los Angeles area fires can be found
• What's causing these fires? Strong, inland winds known as Santa Ana winds — here's what those are
• CONTEXT: Fires come following last year's devastating fire season — which left over 100 civilians and firefighters dead, and cost billions
• Major California utility set to cut power to some 740,000 customers in rare move to protect life and property

[11 October 2019 16:30 · Clark Mindock]

Wildfires aren't particularly uncommon in the United States, and any casual observer may notice that they seem to be increasing in regularity.

There are a variety of reasons for this — including, of course, climate change and the various impacts that can have from drier conditions, less rainfall, and others. But, our simple tendency as humans to develop can fuel these blazes as well.

That is partly what happened last year, where urban structures and leveling contributed to make it easier for fires to spread (and be more deadly, and damaging).

[11 October 2019 16:45 · Clark Mindock]

Fighting these fires doesn't always just use water, by the way. 

Water is, of course, a major component but firefighters can use an array of methods to put out the fires before they can get worse. That includes high tech methods and low tech methods, like fire retardants — which mix fertilizer and red-dyed water — and fire lines — literally areas cleared by firefighter so there is less vegetation and brush for a wildfire to feed off of.

And, one thing we saw last year was the use of a different kind of firefighter — prisoners. 

I took a look at the moral and financial impacts of that last year as fire season took over. Take a look:

[11 October 2019 17:00 · Clark Mindock]

It's not just humans being evacuated as a result of the Saddleridge Fire. Horses are being led to safety, too.

This video was taken by Judy-Lee Chen Sang, where she saw the horses being led away form an equestrian center in a neighborhood near Los Angeles.

[11 October 2019 17:15 · Clark Mindock]

Schools are being shut down as a result of the fires outside of Los Angeles.

Included in there are several high schools —  Bert Corona, Bert Corona Charter, Granada Hills Charter, Jane Adams Continuation, North Valley Military Institute — as well as colleges.

Colleges that have been closed so far include Cal State University Northridge, and the Los Angeles Mission College.

[11 October 2019 17:30 · Clark Mindock]

Some more incredible videos of the Saddleridge Fire.

Here's an aerial view:

And one from the road:

[11 October 2019 17:45 · Clark Mindock]

Here is some remarkable video of the smoke from the Saddleridge Fire reaching all the way to Malibu and Santa Monica. One fatality has been supported, after a man had a heart attack amid the fires.

[11 October 2019 18:30 · Clark Mindock]

The Independent was able to catch up with Judy-Lee Chen Sang, who posted a video of horses being evacuated from the fires.

She tells us:

"I was helping my niece who was house sitting 3 minutes from our home. The person’s house the fire was coming up close. This is Zelzah just north of Rinaldi and there is an equestrian center. They were starting the staging & evacuation of the horses in the area. We are fine. The home was safe & the pets we evacuated 2 dogs & 3 cats are okay and back at their home with my niece."

Here's the video she posted online:

[11 October 2019 19:15 · Clark Mindock]

Yet another glimpse of things on the ground in California today.

[11 October 2019 20:00 · Clark Mindock]

Another look: