Creek Fire (2017) Explained

Creek Fire
Part of the December 2017 Southern California wildfires
Location:Kagel Canyon, Los Angeles County, California, United States
Coordinates:34.3128°N -118.3586°W
Reference:[1] [2]
Area:15619acres
Cause:LADWP power equipment (disputed)[3]
Buildings:123 destroyed
81 damaged
Injuries:3 firefighters
Fatalities:None
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The Creek Fire was a large wildfire that burned in Kagel Canyon and the Angeles National Forest north of Sylmar, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, United States, and one of multiple wildfires that broke out across Southern California in December 2017. The Creek Fire burned 15619acres and destroyed 123 structures, including 60 homes, before being contained on January 9, 2018, following heavy rainfall from a winter storm. The fire threatened the communities of Santa Clarita, Glendale, Olive View, Lake View Terrace, Sunland-Tujunga, Shadow Hills, Sylmar, Pacoima, Lopez Canyon, and Kagel Canyon, as well as the Olive View–UCLA Medical Center. During the wildfire, 115,000 residents were forced to evacuate their homes.[4]

Events

The Creek Fire was reported on December 5, 2017, at 3:44 AM PST, on Kagel Canyon Road, north of Los Angeles.[1] [5] By the afternoon, the fire had jumped Interstate 210 and moved into the Shadow Hills neighborhood, traveling an estimated 15 miles from its starting point in Kagel Canyon and threatening ranches in the area. By the end of the day, a barn in Rancho Padilla burned, killing 30 horses that were trapped inside.[6] The city government of Los Angeles and state governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency, due to the Creek Fire and other fires in the area.[7]

By December 6, the Creek Fire had destroyed 15 structures, including 5 homes, and damaged 15 structures, including 8 homes. Mandatory evacuations were put in place for areas north and south of State Route 210 and portions of Kagel Canyon, Lakeview Terrace, Sunland, Sylmar, Pacoima, Lopez Canyon, and Shadow Hills.[1] 115,000 residents were forced to evacuate. Three firefighters were injured. One was injured by a propane tank explosion, and another one was injured when a bulldozer rolled over.[8] [9]

The rugged, steep terrain where the fire was burning, as well as the heavy Santa Ana winds, caused the fire to grow quickly, and also challenged firefighters.[1] On the evening of December 7, all evacuation orders were lifted except for Limekiln Canyon.[10] The fire had grown to 15323acres by December 8, as Santa Ana winds continued to pick up across the San Gabriel Mountains, continuing to impact the control of the fire. The Angeles National Forest declared its fire danger level at "extreme" and put in place fire restrictions, including no open flames, no campfires, no BBQs, or grilling.[1] The area of Limekiln Canyon, including Santiago Estates, remained evacuated and closed to the public. Schools remained closed in the area.[11] Later on December 8, the Creek Fire increased in size to 15619acres, while containment of the fire also increased to 70%.[12]

By December 9, 123 buildings had been destroyed, including 60 homes.[13] Evacuations orders were ended and the American Red Cross began providing equipment to people returning to their destroyed homes. Fire crews continue to monitor the area.[13] [14] Smoke advisories were declared in the San Fernando Valley and the coastal areas of the county due to the Creek Fire and Skirball Fire.[15] CAL FIRE transferred management responsibilities to the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Los Angeles Fire Department on December 11.[16]

On December 23, the fire was at 15619acres and was 98% contained. Crews continued to reinforce containment lines while patrolling, as well as extinguishing hot spots, mopping up, and implementing suppression repair.[2] On December 27, the Creek Fire was still at 98% containment.[17]

On January 9, 2018, a winter storm dropped heavy rainfall across the region, extinguishing the Creek Fire and triggering mudslides in areas heavily burned by the December 2017 wildfires. However, by 10:00 AM PST that day, mandatory evacuations for residents near the Creek Fire burn area were lifted, after the worst of the mudslide threat for the area had passed.[18]

Investigation

Soon after the Creek Fire ignited, authorities began investigation the cause of the wildfire. Locals reported that around the time that the Creek Fire had started, early on December 5, a steel power pylon near Sylmar had snapped and sent sparks flying, which ignited the Creek Fire.[19] [20] However, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which owns the power lines in the area, denied that there had been any breaks in the power line, though their logs indicated that the power lines were experiencing trouble at around 4:40 AM PST.[21]

Containment progress

Fire containment status
DateAcres burnedContainment
Dec 52,500[22]
Dec 612,605[23]
Dec 715,323[24]
Dec 815,619[25]
Dec 915,619[26]
Dec 1015,619[27]
Dec 11–3115,619[28]
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Jan 9 15,619

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Creek Fire. CAL FIRE. State of California. 21 December 2017. 26 May 2018. May 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180526112945/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1923. dead.
  2. Web site: Creek Fire. InciWeb. US Forest Service. 19 January 2018. 24 January 2018.
  3. Web site: U.S. government sues the LADWP, saying utility's equipment caused the Creek fire. Serna. Joseph. Los Angeles Times. 2019-12-05. 2020-09-07.
  4. Web site: Creek Fire near Sylmar now 11,000 acres; 30 structures burned. ABC7.com. December 5, 2017. December 6, 2017.
  5. News: First major rainstorm in nearly a year hits Southern California, prompting evacuations in burn areas. Los Angeles Times. Alene . Tchekmedyian. Brittny . Mejia. January 8, 2018. January 8, 2018.
  6. Web site: Creek Fire Progress Continues; Containment at 90 Percent. NBC Southern California. December 10, 2017 . 10 December 2017. en. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171210232440/https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Creek-Fire-Progress-Continues-Containment-Percent-463195313.html. 10 December 2017.
  7. Web site: Yee. Chris. State of emergency declared for Los Angeles County as Creek, Rye fires continue to burn. Daily News. 8 December 2017. 6 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171207093950/http://www.dailynews.com/2017/12/05/state-of-emergency-declared-for-los-angeles-county-as-creek-rye-fires-continue-to-burn/. 7 December 2017.
  8. Web site: Martin. Erika. Espinosa. Elizabeth. Abovian. Ellina. Most Affected by Creek Fire in Sylmar Area Will Be Allowed to Return Home; Blaze 10 Percent Contained. KTLA. 8 December 2017. 7 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171208055643/http://ktla.com/2017/12/07/many-remain-in-shelters-with-creek-fire-10-contained/. 8 December 2017.
  9. Web site: Creek fire jumps 210 Freeway, spreads into Shadow Hills and Angeles National Forest. Shelby Grad. . December 5, 2017. December 6, 2017.
  10. Web site: Creek Fire Repopulation Update. CAL FIRE. State of California. 8 December 2017. December 9, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171209043916/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/admin8327985/cdf/images/incidentfile1923_3136.pdf. dead.
  11. Web site: More than 400 schools in LA closed because of wildfires. Local. Southern California Public Radio. 8 December 2017. 8 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171208174655/http://www.scpr.org/news/2017/12/08/78596/la-schools-closed-wildfire/. 8 December 2017.
  12. Web site: 1st death in California wildfires reported, firefighters make progress. Phil Helsel. NBC News. December 9, 2017. December 9, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171209040720/https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/western-wildfires/1st-death-california-wildfires-reported-firefighters-make-progress-n828011. December 9, 2017.
  13. Web site: Creek Fire Update. CAL FIRE. State of California. 9 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171210020135/http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentfile1923_3151.pdf. 10 December 2017.
  14. Web site: Suter. Leanne. Creek Fire: Kagel Canyon residents get helping hand after losing homes. ABC7 Los Angeles. 10 December 2017. 10 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171210081445/http://abc7.com/creek-fire-kagel-canyon-residents-get-helping-hand-after-losing-homes/2762965/. 10 December 2017.
  15. Web site: Bravo. Kristina. Smoke Advisory Declared in San Fernando Valley, Coastal Areas. KTLA. 10 December 2017. 10 December 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171210050843/http://ktla.com/2017/12/09/smoke-advisory-declared-in-san-fernando-valley-coastal-areas/. 10 December 2017.
  16. Web site: Creek Fire evening update 12/11/17. InciWeb. US Forest Service. 14 December 2017.
  17. Web site: Creek fire above Sylmar remains at 98 percent containment. Wes Woods II. . December 27, 2017. December 28, 2017.
  18. Web site: Evacuations Lifted Near Creek Fire Burn Area Amid Storm. Heather Navarro. Jonathan Gonzales. NBC Southern California. January 9, 2018. January 9, 2018.
  19. Web site: Creek fire near Sylmar expected to be fully contained by midnight. Andrea Castillo. Los Angeles Times. December 23, 2017. December 26, 2017.
  20. Web site: Power pylon seen sparking at start of Creek fire is owned by L.A. Department of Water and Power. Paige St. John. Brittny Mejia. Los Angeles Times. December 16, 2017. December 26, 2017.
  21. Web site: Low winds offer reprieve in fight against Thomas fire. Michael Finnegan. Andrea Castillo. Los Angeles Times. December 24, 2017. December 25, 2017.
  22. Web site: Creek Fire Incident Information, December 05, 2017 7:06 am . LACoFD . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171211201939/https://twitter.com/LACoFDPIO/status/938062006371827712 . December 11, 2017 .
  23. Web site: Creek Fire Incident Information, December 06, 2017 6:00 pm. LACoFD. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171211201939/https://twitter.com/LACoFDPIO/status/938622175367409664. December 11, 2017.
  24. Web site: Creek Fire Incident Information, December 07, 2017 8:28 pm. CAL FIRE. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20171208122417/http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1923. December 8, 2017.
  25. Web site: Creek Fire Incident Information, December 08, 2017 7:24 pm. LACoFD. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171211201939/https://twitter.com/LACoFDPIO/status/939334989753155584. December 11, 2017.
  26. Web site: Creek Fire Incident Information, December 09, 2017 7:43 am. LACoFD. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171211201939/https://twitter.com/LACoFDPIO/status/939520945743568896. December 11, 2017.
  27. Web site: Creek Fire Incident Information, December 10, 2017 7:13 am. CAL FIRE. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20171211063252/http://www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents/incidentdetails/Index/1923. December 11, 2017.
  28. Web site: Creek Fire evening update 12/11/17. InciWeb. December 11, 2017. December 13, 2017.

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