Fire Heading Away From Homes

A stubborn wildfire flared out of control near Santa Clarita on Monday afternoon, but officials said the flames were moving into remote brushland and no longer posed an immediate threat to homes or businesses.

“Overall, we’re gaining ground, but we’ve still got a long way to go,” said Leona Rodreick, a public information officer for the U.S. Forest Service.

“We’re moving aggressively to get a line around this fire,” she said. “It’s hot and steep and brushy up there. Those crews are working hard.”

Officials said the Foothill fire was advancing south and east, away from the communities of Fair Oaks, Sand Canyon and Placerita Canyon, where more than 1,600 homes were evacuated over the weekend. But at 9 p.m. Monday night, residents of 200 to 300 homes in Sand Canyon were allowed to return.

Jim McCloud, a resident of Placerita Canyon, said that most of his neighbors left Saturday, but that he decided to stick it out. By Sunday afternoon, he wasn’t sure if he had made the right decision.

“The fire got up to right across the street from my house,” McCloud said. “There used to be a big stand of trees there. Well, they’re gone now.”

But McCloud said firefighters made a determined stand at the street, saving his and all the other houses.

“Those guys are fantastic,” he said.

At the peak of the fire Sunday afternoon, flames reached the Antelope Valley Freeway, scorching freeway signs and halting traffic in both directions for several hours.

The fire, which broke out Saturday near the junction of the Antelope Valley and Golden State freeways, was about 40% contained Monday night after blackening more than 6,000 acres.

Rodreick said that more than 1,700 firefighters were deployed against the blaze.

About 20 miles to the north, the Pine fire in rugged chaparral along the San Andreas Fault was almost completely contained after searing about 17,500 acres and destroying three homes and 21 outbuildings near Lake Hughes.

Funeral services were held in Lancaster on Monday morning for Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Daniel Elkins, 47, who was killed in a traffic accident a week ago as he was driving home from the Pine fire.

In Riverside County, officials said the Melton fire was about two-thirds contained after charring more than 3,600 acres and destroying 14 outbuildings, 14 vehicles, four mobile homes and a travel trailer near Hemet. They said the blaze should be fully contained by this morning.

The man accused of starting the Melton fire Saturday was identified Monday as Donald Brandon, 41, of San Diego. Brandon, who was accused of sparking the blaze while target shooting, has been cited by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. If convicted, he could be ordered to pay part of the cost of fighting the blaze.

Forecasters said the weather should stay hot for the next week or more, with high temperatures in the fire areas and the inland valleys mostly in the upper 80s and lower 90s.