Fires Across Region Force Evacuations, Shut Roads

Several brush fires flared up across Southern California on Thursday, temporarily shutting down two freeways and prompting evacuations of 200 homes in San Bernardino County.

The blazes spurred the deployment of more than 1,000 firefighters, many battling in steep, rocky terrain in temperatures that reached into the upper 90s.

By nightfall, however, officials reported no injuries or structural damage and said almost all of the fires had been partially contained or extinguished.

A blaze in the hills of Castaic briefly closed a portion of the 5 Freeway, consuming 30 acres and coming within 200 yards of homes on Big Oak Lane, authorities said. It was out by 5:30 p.m., officials said.

The strongest fire smoldered through 450 acres on Blue Mountain in Grand Terrace in San Bernardino County. By late afternoon, it was still moving east into the Reche Canyon area, spewing thick smoke and ash.

Water-dropping helicopters and air tankers as well as numerous hand crews were working to contain the flames in dry, knee-high weeds.

The blaze started about 3 p.m. near the border of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Several hours later, it was threatening a mobile home park, prompting the evacuations, officials said.

A portion of Reche Canyon Road had been closed.

Firefighters were trying to contain the blaze before it crept farther east, down the mountainside, said San Bernardino County Fire Department spokeswoman Tracey Martinez.

Meanwhile, near Westlake Village, an additional 100 acres were consumed as a brush fire burned east toward the Lake Sherwood community in Ventura County.

Several residents in a gated community off Westlake Boulevard evacuated their homes voluntarily, and horses from nearby ranches were gathered into shelters, a precautionary step in case the evacuations became mandatory.

About 400 firefighters from Los Angeles and Ventura counties, fighting the rugged, inaccessible landscape as much as the flames, had the blaze 20% contained by 5:30 p.m., officials said.

“If the weather stays like it is, we should have this licked tonight,” said Capt. Ron Nelson of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

Another small fire burned south of Corona near Interstate 15, authorities said.

The 12- to 14-acre blaze started in brush west of the freeway about 2 p.m. at Weirick and Knabe roads. Officials closed the Weirick Road exit off the southbound I-15 as more than 80 firefighters battled the flames.

Although downed power lines were reported in the area, the cause of the fire was still under investigation, said Capt. Jerry Dalebout with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in Riverside County.

Structures were threatened early on, but none were damaged.

“It’s pretty much under control,” Dalebout said.

Earlier, small fires also erupted in Los Penasquitos Canyon Reserve, about 10 miles north of San Diego, and in Pomona.

The San Diego-area blaze prompted officials to evacuate a recreation center where children were attending summer camp. Residents along the canyon rim were urged to leave.

The 30-acre fire along the eastbound Pomona Freeway broke out about 11:30 a.m., shutting down all traffic for half an hour and limiting it to two lanes for more than three hours.

The blaze was ignited when a vehicle caught fire and pulled to the shoulder of the road, authorities said.

About 200 firefighters, including three helicopter crews, extinguished it without any damage to nearby homes.

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Times staff writers Susannah Rosenblatt and Robin Fields contributed to this report.