Las Flores Canyon a ‘trigger point’ for Topanga Canyon

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Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Bob Goldman stood in the driveway of Fire Station No. 70 at the intersection of Carbon Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway, watching flames advance his way.

‘This fire really fooled me,’ Goldman said. ‘Last night when I went to bed I thought, ‘Ah, this fire is just going to punk around on the hillside, it’s not particularly active.’ But when I woke up this morning, I was shocked. I never thought it would reach my fire station.’

Like many fire officials early this morning, Goldman was concerned that the fire could move into nearby Las Flores Canyon.

That canyon is a designated ‘trigger point,’ Goldman said, meaning that if it becomes engulfed in flames, officials plan to order evacuations for the 12,000 to 14,000 people who live in Topanga Canyon.

Goldman said he worried that if the fire crossed into Las Flores Canyon, it would run, unimpeded, through heavy brush all the way to Topanga Canyon.

-- Louis Sahagun, Carbon Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway