Topanga Fire Nearly Contained

Firefighters neared full containment of the 24,000-acre Topanga fire late Tuesday, but officials remained alert for additional problems spurred by returning Santa Ana winds.

Sustained winds up to 35 mph -- gusting to 50 mph -- are forecast for the valleys, mountains and Angeles National Forest early today. Blustery conditions and low humidity prompted authorities to raise the danger level from high to very high.

“We’re very concerned about those winds, especially on the south end of the fire through Cheeseboro and Las Virgenes canyons,” said Joe Luna, spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department. “Our goal is to prevent the winds from starting up the flames again and carrying them across the 101 [Freeway] into the Malibu Canyon.”

Though the fire at the Los Angeles-Ventura county line was expected to be contained by Tuesday evening, Luna said the mop-up, including cutting back brush at numerous sites to diminish the threat of future fires and taking steps to reduce winter landslides in burned areas, will probably continue through Oct. 13.

Meanwhile, firefighters have fully contained a blaze that had scorched nearly 11,000 acres in the Burbank area since Thursday, and officials in San Diego County announced the arrest of a 22-year-old Valley Center man in connection with a series of brush fires in the northern part of the county.

Shane Daniel McClung was arrested Sunday on suspicion of arson. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in San Diego County Superior Court.

In the Inland Empire, the Thurman fire that threatened the San Bernardino National Forest community of Angelus Oaks was 85% contained Tuesday after burning 935 acres, the U.S. Forest Service said. Winds of 20 to 40 mph “had no effect” on the fire, said spokeswoman Kathy Ungemach. Nearly 500 crew members extinguished hot spots throughout the day.

In Devore, a 10-acre fire that started Tuesday afternoon off Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County was fully contained within hours, Ungemach said. The red-flag warning for high winds will continue until 2 p.m. Thursday, she said.

In Ventura County, a 25-year-old Simi Valley man accused of starting a small brush fire Monday near the edge of the Topanga fire remained in custody Tuesday. Francisco Ortiz, 25, was being detained at Simi Valley Hospital where he was taken for treatment of intoxication from an unidentified narcotic.

State fire officials surveying the area by helicopter spotted Ortiz wandering alone in the hills south of the Brandeis-Bardin Institute shortly before 1 p.m. Monday.

Ortiz told police officers he “needed to take a long walk,” said Sgt. Stephanie Shannon, a Simi Valley Police Department spokeswoman. Officers confiscated a cigarette lighter from Ortiz and consider him the prime suspect in the two-acre fire.

After he is released from the hospital, Ortiz will be booked on suspicion of arson, trespassing, being under the influence of a controlled substance and resisting arrest, authorities said.

Authorities do not believe Ortiz is connected to the Topanga fire, which started Sept. 28 near the 118 Freeway and Topanga Canyon Boulevard. The flames destroyed three homes and three commercial buildings and threatened thousands of homes and businesses in Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Chatsworth and other portions of the west San Fernando Valley.

Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper said Tuesday the costs of fighting the fire so far are $12.5 million, but are expected to rise to $15 million when mop-up is complete.

Funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover 75% of the costs, and officials hope the remaining 25% will be covered by state and other federal dollars.

Times staff writer Catherine Saillant contributed to this report.