100-Acre Controlled Burn Set Near Valencia

The Los Angeles County Fire Department staged a 100-acre controlled burn Wednesday evening to reduce the fire hazard in Pico Canyon west of Valencia.

Smoke from the fire, burning in the canyon one mile west of the Golden State Freeway, could be seen rising to the north of the San Fernando Valley. The fire was ignited at 7:30 p.m. to burn for two hours, Firefighter Stan Pearson said.

Firefighters cut breaks along the perimeter of the fire to prevent it from spreading, Pearson said. Fire officials waited for favorable weather--including a slight onshore breeze--before staging the burn, he said.