THE SOUTHLAND FIRESTORM / DAY FOUR : The Southland Fires

L.A. Times Archives

Oct. 30, 1993 12 AM PT

Fourteen fires that damaged or destroyed at least 537 homes and scorched more than 152,164 acres in six Southern California counties were for the most part largely under control by Friday evening. A fire is controlled when its perimeter is surrounded and no longer expanding. The term containment, usually accompanied by a percentage figure, is used to describe how much of a fire is considered under control. No deaths were reported.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Altadena/Sierra Madre

* Location: San Gabriel foothills above Pasadena and Altadena

* Acres: 5,000

* Damage: 118 homes destroyed, $58.5-million estimated loss

* Injuries: 29 firefighters and nine residents, all minor injuries

* Status: 35% contained

* Evacuations: More than 2,500 residents from 500 homes. Some residents allowed to return.

* Shelters: Eliot Middle School, 2184 N. Lake Ave., Altadena; Sierra Madre Community Center, 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

* Cause: Suspicious, suspect in custody

* Firefighters: 1,300

Chatsworth

* Location: South of Simi Valley Freeway at Los Angeles County-Ventura County line

* Acres: 1,260

* Damage: None reported

* Injuries: Four firefighters burned, two critically and two seriously

* Status: Out

* Evacuations: None reported

* Shelters: Unknown

* Cause: Arson

* Firefighters: 460

ORANGE COUNTY

Laguna Beach

* Location: Irvine to Laguna Beach, including Emerald Bay

* Acres: 16,684

* Damage: 318 homes damaged or destroyed, $270 million estimated loss.

* Injuries: 19 firefighters

* Status: Fully contained

* Evacuations: 24,000 residents from Laguna Beach

* Shelters: Dana Hill High School, 33333 Street of the Golden Lantern, Dana Point; Corona del Mar High School, 2101 E. Bluff Drive, Corona del Mar; Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo

* Cause: Arson suspected

* Firefighters: 1,000

Ortega

* Location: Cleveland National Forest near Ortega Highway, 20 miles east of Interstate 5

* Acres: 15,000

* Damage: 22 structures destroyed

* Injuries: None reported

* Status: 30% contained

Villa Park/Anaheim Hills

* Location: Anaheim Hills and Orange

* Acres: 750

* Damage: 31 homes damaged or destroyed

* Injuries: One resident and one firefighter, minor injuries

* Status: Out

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

Winchester

* Location: South of Hemet

* Acres: 25,100

* Damage: 30 homes damaged or destroyed, two bird farms, $2.6 million estimated loss.

* Injuries: Three firefighters and four residents, minor injuries

* Status: Expect full containment by 6 tonight.

Box Springs

* Location: Between Moreno Valley and Riverside, north of California 60

* Acres: 3,500

* Damage: No damage

* Injuries: None reported

* Status: Fully contained

Cahuilla

* Location: Cahuilla Indian Reservation near Anza

* Acres: 2,500

* Damage: None

* Injuries: None reported

* Status: Fully contained

Temecula

* Location: Near Vail Lake off California 79

* Acres: 500

* Damage: None reported

* Injuries: None reported

* Status: Fully contained

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Yucaipa

* Location: Southwest Yucaipa

* Acres: 4,860

* Damage: Five homes and one barn destroyed

* Injuries: Two firefighters, minor injuries

* Status: Fully contained

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Escondido

* Location: North San Diego County

* Acres: 14,800

* Damage: Five homes destroyed

* Injuries: Three firefighters, all minor

* Status: Still burning

* Evacuations: Parts of Ramona

* Shelters: Orange Glen School, 2200 Glen Ridge Road, Escondido

* Cause: Downed power lines

* Firefighters: 700

VENTURA COUNTY

Thousand Oaks/Malibu

* Location: Thousand Oaks to Pacific Ocean

* Acres: 37,560

* Damage: 35 homes destroyed, 23 other structures destroyed, eight mobile homes, seven mountaintop telecommunications towers and other facilities destroyed

* Injuries: Nine firefighters and three residents, minor injuries

* Status: Partly contained

* Evacuations: Parts of Westlake Village on Ventura County side, Yerba Buena and Carlisle Canyon

* Shelters: Point Dume Community Center, 6955 Fernhill Drive, Malibu; Agoura High School, 22825 Driver Ave.

* Cause: Arson, no arrests

* Firefighters: 2,000

Steckel Park

* Location: Santa Paula

* Acres: 23,000

* Damage: One barn destroyed

* Injuries: Unknown

* Status: 50% contained