SANTA CLARITA, Calif. -- A fire burned uphill through dry brush and briefly threatened about three homes in the Sand Canyon area near Santa Clarita on Tuesday, but firefighters quickly got an upper hand on the blaze before any properties were damaged, fire officials said.
Raw Video | Images | MapAuthorities said it was accidentally sparked by a chain saw."Someone using a chain saw hit a rock and caused a spark," said Inspector Sam Padilla of the county fire department.
Los Angeles County fire Inspector Frank Garrido said the homes had adequate brush clearance, which helped firefighters protect the structures from the flames, which burned across about three to four acres by 1 p.m.The fire was reported at 11:37 a.m. near Sultus Street and Brooken Avenue, Garrido said. At least two helicopters were called in to make water drops, Garrido said.Mike Brown of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said about 100 firefighters were at the scene.A second-alarm call for more resources was issued about 12:15 p.m. By 12:45 p.m., the fire was burning uphill in medium-dense brush.County fire spokesman Paul Hartwell said the threat to the homes was only brief, and by 1 p.m. there were very few visible flames, just smoke rising from the smoldering brush.Even before the fire, air quality was expected to be unhealthy Tuesday in the Santa Clarita, East San Gabriel and Pomona/Walnut valleys and the San Gabriel Mountains for individuals with heart disease, asthma or other chronic respiratory diseases, according to county public health officials.The Department of Public Health suggested that sensitive individuals stay indoors as much as possible, and any schools in session were urged to excuse children who suffer from such conditions from physical education and after-school sports.
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