(KTLA) – New evacuations were ordered Friday morning as the Tick Fire grew to 4,300 acres and jumped the 14 Freeway in the Sand Canyon area of Santa Clarita.
Officials have asked all Sand Canyon residents from the 14 Freeway to Placerita Canyon Road to evacuate. Officials said the Fair Oaks area remains under voluntary orders.
The fire, which broke out about 1:45 p.m. Thursday in the 31600 block of Tick Canyon Road in Agua Dulce, quickly burned toward Santa Clarita.
The fire prompted closures on the 14 Freeway Thursday night before flames eventually jumped to the other side early Friday morning.
The California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert about 2:30 a.m. for the closure of all lanes between Golden Valley and Escondido Canyon for an unknown duration.
A 7:30 a.m. update from fire officials estimated the fire had burned 4,300 acres, or nearly 7 square miles, and was 5% contained. An unknown number of structures have been destroyed and about 10,000 remain threatened.
Fire officials are expected to address the media around 9:30 a.m.
A flare-up Friday morning in the blaze resulted in more homes catching fire.
One home was engulfed in flames about 4 a.m. in the 29500 Arches Lane. Gusty winds were blowing embers sideways and threatening other homes in the tightly packed neighborhood.
Smoke appeared to be coming from the attic space of at least one other home near the burning structure.
Mandatory evacuations in place
Mandatory evacuations were in place for about 40,000 people, according to fire officials. The following areas are listed under the orders:
- Sand Canyon from the 14 Freeway to Placerita Canyon Road
- South of Vasquez Canyon Road
- North and east of Plum Canyon Road
- North and east of Whites Canyon Road
- North and east of Soledad Canyon Road
- West of Agua Dulce
- South and north of the 14 Freeway
- East of Sand Canyon Road
- North of Placerita Canyon
- West of Robinson Ranch Golf Course
- West of Sequoia Road
- East of Rolling Hills
- North of Diver Street
- Davenport Road east of Sierra Highway, including all streets off Davenport Road
Shelters are available to evacuees at College of the Canyons, Valencia Campus located at 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road in Santa Clarita, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated.
The Sheriff’s Department initially tweeted the Valencia campus gym was located at 17200 Sierra Highway. They updated the address in a news release Friday.
Residents with small animals were being directed to Castaic Animal Care Center at 31044 North Charlie Canyon Road.
Large animals were being accepted at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, but the location was closed by 9 p.m. Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Santa Clarita said it would be posting public safety updates on its emergency website.
School closures
Several school districts have canceled classes due to poor air quality Friday. The following schools have asked students to stay home until further notice:
- William S. Hart Union High School District
- Saugus Union School District
- Castaic Union School District
- Los Angeles Unified School Districts schools within the San Fernando Valley
- Fillmore Unified School District
- Mupu School District
Critical fire weather
The Santa Clarita area is under a red flag warning as gusty winds continue to blow Friday. High temperatures and low humidities are also making for critical fire weather conditions.
Gusts of 45-55 mph were expected to continue in the Tick Fire area through Friday morning, the National Weather Service said.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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