LOS ANGELES (AP) -- According to Inspector Ron Haralson of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, as of 9 a.m., all evacuations related to the Marek Fire will be lifted, except for Lopez Canyon, which remains evacuated. Haralson says residents of Kagel Canyon will be allowed back only with identification.
However, livestock at this time, will NOT be allowed back in. Also, all freeway onramps and offramps will be reopened along the Foothill (210) Freeway and the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway at 9 a.m.
Just 12 hours earlier, the fire was only 5 percent contained. Authorities also reduced the acreage to 4,800 acres from 5,300 acres.
County fire Inspector Paul Hartwell says firefighters hit the blaze near Kagel Canyon hard Monday night. However, flames are surging through head-high brush on steep hillsides that last burned more than 30 years ago.
The so-called Sesnon fire, about 10 miles away in Porter Ranch, was flaring up on several flanks as winds buffeted the flames. That blaze is uncontained.
The Merek fire started Monday and burned 38 mobile homes and one single-family home. It is blamed for one of two fire-related deaths. More homes burned around Porter Ranch and a traffic death was blamed on the fire.
Evacuations have been ordered in the following communities:
Box Canyon
Porter Ranch
Bell Canyon
Woolsey Canyon
Lake Manor
Dayton Canyon
Brown Canyon
Twin Lakes
In addition, evacuations were ordered late Monday from a brush fire burning in the Bonita Canyon section of Newport Beach. According to Jennifer Schultz of the Newport Beach Fire Department, mandatory evacuations were reported in the area of Hilltop Drive toward the San Joaquin Reservoir.
Evacuation Shelters:
-- Sylmar High School: an overnight shelter
-- Shepherd Of The Hills Church: an overnight shelter
-- San Fernando High School: an overnight shelter
-- El Camino High School
-- Chatsworth High School
-- Canoga Park High School
Animal Shelters:
-- Shepherd Of The Hills Church
-- Pierce College Equestrian Center: Hansen Dam Equestrian Centerhas reached capacity
-- Ventura County Fairgrounds
-- Malibu Tennis And Riding Club
Savage winds subsided overnight so firefighters were able to contain 70 percent of the Marek fire in the San Fernando Valley. But authorities say the winds could be back later in the day.Mayor Villaraigosa urged those who were looking for updated information on evacuations, road closures and assistance to call the LAFD at (800) 439-2909 or the L.A. County Fire Department at (323) 881-2413.
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