Teenager Admits Setting Castaic Fire That Has Burned 15,000 Acres, 7 Homes

A brush fire that has consumed more than 15,000 acres continued to burn out of control Tuesday even as a San Fernando teenager, who confessed to having set it, said he had no particular reason for his action, sheriff’s officials said.

At least seven homes have been destroyed or damaged, as well as dozens of vehicles and outbuildings, firefighters said. Three firefighters have received minor injuries and a donkey trapped in a corral was singed.

By late Tuesday the blaze had moved into the Angeles National Forest south of Highway 138, where no major fire has burned since 1968, giving it plenty of fuel, said Fred E. Coe, spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service.

Firefighters were still unable to estimate when the blaze, which wreaked havoc with freeway traffic Monday, would be contained.

The 15-year-old being held on suspicion of arson had been missing from home overnight in his father’s car, which broke down on the Golden State Freeway north of Castaic. Walking along the steep interstate highway in an unpopulated area in 100-degree heat, he said, he suddenly just decided to set the fire, said Sgt. Heidi Clark of the sheriff’s arson investigation bureau.

He was quickly picked up by California Highway Patrol officers as he walked away from the flames. The youth is expected to be arraigned today at Sylmar Juvenile Hall, where he is being held.

The youth’s parents reported the teenager missing on Monday morning, just hours before the blaze began, Clark said. The parents told investigators their son had borrowed the car on Sunday to run a quick errand and never returned.

The name of the youth, who is not licensed to drive, was being withheld because of his age. Officials said they cannot reveal whether the teenager has a history of prior trouble.

Meanwhile, more than 750 firefighters from federal, state and county agencies continue to battle the blaze, which is traveling in isolated, rugged terrain in the northern Los Angeles County area, said Dave Crall, a spokesman for the county fire department.

Firefighters injured since the blaze began about 12:30 p.m. Monday include one who suffered from heat exhaustion, another who was treated for a twisted ankle and a third with a cut hand, officials said.

The donkey received burns on the head and neck when it could not escape the flames, officials said.

Six water-dropping helicopters are being used on the blaze, which is the largest one in Los Angeles County this fire season.

About 60% of the fire had moved into the forest area by late Tuesday, where firefighters were having trouble navigating the steep terrain. Coe, of the forest service, said, “The county has almost all of their half of the fire under control, and the reason they could do that is they have road. We don’t have roads in the national forest.”

The Golden State Freeway was open to traffic Tuesday after being completely shut down Monday, bottling up travelers for hours. However, the Old Ridge Route, which parallels Interstate 5, remained closed Tuesday as crews worked to repair Southern California Edison lines damaged by the fire.

Power on two major Pacific Intertie lines was interrupted late Monday after insulators were contaminated by an oil-like soot from chapparal burning around towers. Power in the lines was partly restored by noon Tuesday and full capacity was expected by nightfall Tuesday, said Millie Paul, spokeswoman for the utility.

Edison workers switched to other power sources to make up for the loss and no customers were affected, Paul said.

The California Highway Patrol has continued to maintain a command post along the heavily traveled road in case the fire threatened to cross back to the highway.

Smoke from the fire could be seen throughout the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys.

Meanwhile, firefighters said they had nearly contained a stubborn arson fire near Azusa by late Tuesday afternoon.

The fire that began Saturday had destroyed 1,428 acres of brush and chaparral and cost $765,000 to fight. Officials Tuesday opened Highway 39 to residents for the first time since the fire broke out.

Edison has begun installing new power poles to return electricity to residents near the fire area, officials said.

No arrests have been reported to the fire information office.