Officials issue smoke advisory from Santa Clarita Sand fire as LCF residents keep watch

Locals who looked skyward Friday afternoon may have been alarmed to see smoke plumes rising from the Angeles National Forest and raining ash from a still-young Sand fire in Santa Clarita onto La Cañada’s city streets 25 miles away.

By Tuesday afternoon the blaze had encompassed 37,473 acres of land, destroying 18 residences and drawing upon the combined resources of 3,046 firefighters, the Los Angeles Times reported. Despite a strong show of force, however, the fire had only been 25% contained.

With memories of the 2009 Station fire — which hit the Angeles National Forest in late August and enveloped more than 160,000 acres and 200 structures before its dousing in October — still fresh in mind, La Cañada residents have been keeping a close watch as events unfold in Santa Clarita.

In a statement released Friday night, city officials advised residents that the local community was not at immediate risk, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, but encouraged anyone with respiratory issues to be mindful of increased particulate matter in the air.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory Tuesday which stated portions of the San Gabriel Mountains, including La Cañada Flintridge, were likely to experience smoke impacts and an unhealthy air quality that could affect sensitive groups. An interactive air-quality map with up-to-date information can be found at aqmd.gov.