Sage fire in Santa Clarita Valley now 85% contained
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A brush fire in the Santa Clarita Valley that temporarily forced the evacuations of 2,000 residents over the weekend was 85% contained Monday night, officials said.
About 700 firefighters were battling the 1,100-acre Sage fire burning near unincorporated Stevenson Ranch, said Inspector Gustavo Medina of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Two aircraft were being used to battle the blaze, authorities said.
“Our main concern today is putting out as many of the hot spots as we can and trying to increase the containment line before the winds kick up,” Medina said.
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A small home caught fire in the burn area Sunday, but it was unclear whether that was the result of embers from the brush fire or a separate incident, Medina said. There were no injuries reported with that fire, he said.
No other structures were threatened.
Three firefighters, including one inmate firefighter, suffered minor injuries over the weekend and were taken to local hospitals, Medina said. They all were in stable condition.
The fast-moving Sage fire – fueled by hot temperatures and winds up to 25 mph – forced thousands of residents to evacuate when it broke out shortly after noon Saturday. All of them were allowed to return to their homes later that night, Medina said.
The cause of the brush fire is still under investigation and could take several days to determine, Medina said.
An evacuation center at West Ranch High School in Stevenson Ranch will close at 11 p.m. Monday, authorities said. As of Monday morning, no one was at the center.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District on Sunday issued a smoke advisory in the area affected by the Sage fire, including portions of the Santa Clarita Valley and San Gabriel Mountains.
The agency said people in those areas should avoid outdoor activity, keep doors and windows closed and avoid using indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces.
The smoke advisory was scheduled to expire Monday night.
Twitter: @haileybranson
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UPDATES:
8:47 p.m.: This article was updated with new details on the containment of the fire.
This article was originally published at 9:53 a.m.
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