Flames from the Hurst Fire could be seen from the freeway Tuesday night.
A fire that ignited late Tuesday night just south of the Newhall Pass in Sylmar has been reported to cover an area of 505 acres as of the most recent update on Wednesday morning, according to officials from the Fire Department. They faced significant challenges in their containment efforts due to winds reaching speeds of 80 mph.
The Hurst Fire was first reported at 10:28 p.m. on Tuesday, with the L.A. County Fire Department arriving on the scene by 10:42 p.m., as stated by Howard Tieu, a dispatcher for the L.A. County Fire Department.
Tieu indicated that the incident was part of a coordinated response, primarily led by the L.A. City Fire Department due to the fire's location.
As of Wednesday morning, there have been no reported injuries according to L.A. County Fire Department officials.
Officials from the L.A. City Fire Department were unavailable for comment on Wednesday morning regarding the resources deployed at the scene.
L.A. County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger urged residents on Wednesday morning to take evacuation warnings seriously, as emergency personnel brace for at least two additional days of strong winds.
According to county Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, who serves as the region's incident coordinator, there were four significant incidents occurring simultaneously on Wednesday morning, with over 5,000 acres having burned on Tuesday due to a series of wind-driven fires.
“This is not a drill,” Barger emphasized during a live broadcast on Wednesday morning. “This is real time.”
L.A. City Fire Chief Kristin M. Crowley remarked in a live address on Tuesday that the volume and magnitude of the incidents were placing considerable strain on the department's resources, expressing gratitude to those working on the front lines.
The city was engaged in firefighting efforts while simultaneously managing emergency 911 resources for approximately 4 million residents. She emphasized to the public that over 3,000 service calls were addressed during this period, which significantly exceeds the typical average of 1,500 calls within a 24-hour timeframe.
As of 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday, there were no active evacuation orders for the Santa Clarita Valley, as reported by Lt. Luis Molina of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
Officer Carlos Burgos-Lopez from the California Highway Patrol Newhall-area Office indicated that several road closures affecting SCV commuters were still in effect, urging drivers to exercise caution and patience while on the road today.
He also recommended that everyone verify their travel routes, as conditions may change due to ongoing weather events.
The southbound lanes transitioning from Interstate 5 to Interstate 210 remained closed as of 8:15 a.m., he noted.
“The truck route in the vicinity of the 210 and 14 will also be closed,” he added, mentioning that while the eastbound lanes of the 210 have been reopened, the westbound lanes remain closed.
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