The Powerhouse Fire grew to 5,561 acres in northern Los Angeles County on a hot and windy Saturday, burning structures and prompting evacuations in rugged areas between the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys in southern California.
Three firefighters have been injured, and 960 firefighters, assisted by planes and helicopters, were expected to keep up the aerial and ground assault against flames on Saturday. The blaze was 20 percent contained, said John Wagner of the U.S. Forest Service.
An unspecified number of structures were burning Saturday night, county fire officials said. The exact locations of the structures were not immediately released.
About 1,000 structures threatened in the burn area. Firefighters were trying to protect structures, in the Lake Hughes area, said Los Angeles County Fire spokesman Keith Mora.
Temperatures reached the triple digits in some areas, including near the fire.
Also on Saturday, officials ordered evacuations for Elizabeth Lake Road and areas south of Lake Hughes, and upheld existing evacuations in the San Francisquito Canyon area.
Road closures were also ordered.
The fire broke out Thursday near a hydroelectric plant known as Powerhouse No. 1 in San Francisquito Canyon, north of Santa Clarita, the third biggest city in Los Angeles County.
Health officials urged people to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities as air quality in the Santa Clarita Valley and San Gabriel Mountains was expected to be unhealthy throughout the weekend due to the fire.
Evacuation orders were expected to remain in effect at least through Saturday night. Power lines were reported threatened at one point Thursday, but there were no reports of service disruptions, Judy said.
One structure, described as an outbuilding, was destroyed in the blaze, Judy said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Photo Credit: David Jackson/NBCLA.com