Santa Clarita Blaze Jumps Fire Lines

A man taking target practice with a rifle southwest of Hemet on Saturday afternoon was cited for allegedly sparking the Melton fire, authorities said, while several other fires continued to burn Sunday, including a Santa Clarita blaze that jumped fire lines, prompting officials to order the evacuation of about 1,600 homes.

A Riverside County resident, whose name was not released, was cited by the California Department of Forestry and Prevention for recklessly causing a fire and could be ordered to pay some of the more than $1.1 million it has cost so far to fight the blaze. The fire blackened more than 3,600 acres of brush and damaged three buildings by late Sunday, when it was about 50% contained.

To the west in the mountains between the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, firefighters had contained about 35% of the Foothill fire by early Sunday afternoon when the blaze, driven by 20 mph winds, bounded across fire lines.

Earlier in the day, fire officials had allowed the return of about 100 residents who had evacuated their homes Saturday, said Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Mark Savage.

About 2 p.m., however, with temperatures rising into the high 90s, officials again ordered those residents to evacuate, along with all others living south of the Antelope Valley Freeway and west of Sand Canyon Road. The area includes the Fair Oaks Ranch development. More than 1,000 firefighters, aided by water-dropping helicopters, sought to keep the flames out of the residential area.

Residents south of the Antelope Valley Freeway and east of Sand Canyon Road were told to be ready to evacuate, Savage said.

After being closed then reopened Saturday, a 10-mile stretch of the Antelope Valley Freeway was closed again Sunday afternoon until late evening as smoke, which could be seen across Los Angeles County, obscured much of the area.

The Foothill fire started shortly before noon Saturday near the junction of the Antelope Valley and Golden State freeways after a red-tail hawk was electrocuted by a power line and fell to the ground, igniting grass and brush. By late Sunday, the fire had charred about 4,200 acres. At least three firefighters had suffered minor injuries, Savage said.

In northwest Los Angeles County, firefighters made progress Sunday in quelling the Pine fire, which has ravaged more than 17,000 acres since it was sparked a week ago. Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire. The blaze was 80% contained Sunday, and all 1,000 residents who had evacuated the area were allowed back to their homes, fire officials said, adding that they expected to have the fire fully controlled this week.

“We’re in mop up,” said Cricket Konopacki, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry. “They’re watching for smoke and putting out hot spots, and making sure everything is out.”

The Pine blaze destroyed three homes and damaged five other buildings, Konopacki said. Four firefighters suffered minor injuries, and one fireman, Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Daniel E. Elkins, 47, was killed in a car accident while returning home from the fire. Funeral services for the 20-year Fire Department veteran are scheduled at 11 a.m. today at Lancaster Baptist Church, 4020 E. Lancaster Blvd.

About 5,000 firefighters have battled blazes across Southern California during the last week. More than 40,000 acres had burned as of Sunday evening, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved funds to help pay for fighting six of the fires, including the Foothill and Melton blazes.