Woolsey Fire Balloons At 35,000 Acres: Officials

CHATSWORTH, CA – The Woolsey fire has now burned 35,000 acres, fire officials said on Friday night in Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. As fast flames spread rapidly, destroying homes and leading to an iconic Western movie, residents of Malibu and Hidden Hills were evacuated, sparking a multi-kilometer rescue operation on the Pacific Coast Highway, the main road for Evacuation of residents of Malibu. area due to the fire.

The youth and staff of the Kilpatrick Campus in Malibu's Los Angeles County Probation Office were evacuated to the Lancaster Memorial Challenger Memorial Center on Friday night due to the Woolsey Fire, a bush fire that was taking place. 39 is declared Thursday and that has spread quickly. All youth and staff assigned to Kilpatrick Campus are safe and responsible, said a spokesperson.

"This is a very stressful time, our first responders have not slept," said a Ventura County fire prevention official at a press conference Monday morning. "Throughout the state of California, there are fires, so there is not as much support as we need, but we are resilient and most importantly, it is simply d & # 39; To be safe. "

Governor-elect Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation regarding Los Angeles County and Ventura County due to the Woolsey and Hill fires. The President and the Federal Emergency Management Agency also acceded to California 's request, presented Thursday by the governor' s office, to obtain a presidential emergency declaration seeking direct federal assistance to complete the intervention of the US government. Emergency conducted by states and localities in the event of major fires in the counties of Ventura, Los Angeles and Butte. .

Federal aid includes air assets to mitigate the effects of fires, shelter and water for evacuee residents, as well as support for mass health care, outpatient transportation and the ## 147 ## 39, evacuation of persons with functional needs and access.

The Woolsey fire quickly spread, in part due to wind gusts of up to 100 km / h, destroying several homes as a wall of flames headed toward the ocean Friday.

"It's going fast and you have to be ready," Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Chief John Benedict said at a news briefing on Friday morning. "If you're ready to leave, leave, if you're told to leave, get out of there."

The four lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway – the main escape route for Malibu residents forced out of the area due to the fire – have been converted for use by drivers heading south only to help to clear an emergency distance of several kilometers. As of Friday afternoon, no northbound traffic will be allowed on the road between Santa Monica and Malibu.

Officials from Santa Monica Mountains reported Friday that the fire had burned Paramount Ranch Western Town, the scene of filming of hundreds of movies and TV shows over the years, including more recently "Westworld" from HBO. In an article on Twitter, park officials said that they "do not have details or photos, but we understand that the structures burned."

The fire broke out in Ventura County on Thursday night and burned 8,000 acres on Friday morning and was under control at zero. The fire ravaged Ventura Highway (101), destroying several structures and threatening at least another 30,000 homes in both counties, fire officials said.

"The night has been long," said Corey Rose, deputy fire chief of Los Angeles, during a press briefing. "I just want to thank the community for its resilience and listening to evacuation orders, which is never easy to do."

All schools of the Las Virgines Unified School District in Calabasas, as well as the Viewpoint, Montessori of Calabasas, Montessori de Calabasas Too and Muse School schools were closed Friday following the Woolsey fire, according to the city of Calabasas . Classes were also canceled Friday at Pepperdine University's Malibu and Calabasas campuses, at Santa Monica College's Malibu Courts and at all Malibu schools in the unified school district of Santa Monica Malibu, according to a statement from the University of California. city ​​of Malibu.

A large animal evacuation center has been established at the Zuma Beach parking lot in Malibu and Hansen Dam Equestrian Center at 11127 Orcas Ave. in the terrace overlooking the lake. The American Red Cross indicates that the nearest evacuation center for Malibu residents is located at Palisades High School, 15777 St. Bowdoin, in the Pacific Palisades.

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Thousand Oaks High School, 2323 N. Moorpark Rd .; Thousand Oaks Teen Center, 1375 East Janss Road; Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1384 E. Janss Road; Taft Charter High School, 5461 Winnetka Ave. at Woodland Hills; and the Rancho Santa Susana Recreation Center 5005 E Los Angeles Ave at Simi Valley (pets not allowed), according to Fox 11.

Pierce College at 6201 Winnetka Ave. in Woodland Hills and Los Angeles County Wildlife Services accepted animals, but they reached their home capacity Residents who need an animal shelter can now take their pets to Hansen Dam, 11127 Orcas Ave. in Sylmar.

The Los Angeles Police Department was put on tactical alert throughout the city at around 12:45 pm to ensure that all resources are available to assist with the execution of evacuation orders and closures. of roads caused by the Woolsey fire, according to a statement from the department.

"If you are in an affected area and need to evacuate, evacuate," the statement said.

Authorities had to provide emergency assistance to residents trapped by the 5600 block fire from Hollytree Drive, according to the Ventura County Star.

At approximately 1:30 am, all residents south of the Ventura Highway between Westlake Boulevard on the west, Mulholland Highway on the south and Las Virgenes Road on the east were ordered to leave immediately, according to Malibu Search. and Rescue. This includes areas of Westlake Village and the unincorporated community of Cornell, both located in L.A.

At approximately 12:30 pm, all residents of Los Angeles and Ventura counties north of Ventura Highway (101), south of Bell Canyon Road, west of Valley Circle Boulevard and at the 39, east of Erbes Road, as well as north of Kanan Road, to the west of According to the Ventura County Fire Department, Lindero Canyon and Erbes Road, located north of Sunset Hills Boulevard, were clear out. This includes areas of Agura Hills, Calabasas and Westlake Village, all located in L.A.

The Woolsey fire broke out around 2:25 pm Thursday, pushed by the strong winds of Santa Ana, which prevent the commanders of fire from commanding aerial assaults.

"Wind-blown conditions … are ideal conditions for explosive fire behavior," Los Angeles County Fire Chief Erik Scott told NBC4. "It's the new normal." When we have conditions like this, when the wind is incredible, it brings us to a different caliber, which makes it a lot more difficult. "

A battalion chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department told NBC4 that the flames could burn "for days".

On Friday morning, no civilians or firemen were injured, according to Ventura County firefighters.

Captain Steve Concialdi said the Orange County fire officials had sent two fire crews to firefighters specializing in the Woolsey fire.

City officials in Calabasas advised residents not yet subject to a mandatory evacuation order to be prepared to leave by collecting their identity papers, medications, important documents, supplies and equipment. emergency and their change of clothes.

Teams from the County and City of Los Angeles participated in the battle, which was taking place as a second largest bushfire raged further west in Ventura County, in the Santa Rosa Valley area. Thousand Oaks.

Mille Oaks was also the scene of a massive shooting on Wednesday night at a nightclub where 11 civilians and a sheriff's sergeant were killed. The shooter also died as a result of a self-inflicted bullet wound.

Related >> Hill fires grow, evacuate, hit teams from several counties

City News Service; Photo: LACounty Fire PIOA flawless stay

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