UPDATED thruout: A fast-moving wildfire that broke out earlier Thursday afternoon near West Hills, northwest of Los Angeles, on the border of L.A. and Ventura counties, has charred 960 acres and briefly forced mandatory evacuations. It is now investigated as arson with a suspect in custody. The fire, called the Kenneth Fire, was first spotted […]UPDATED thruout: A fast-moving wildfire that broke out earlier Thursday afternoon near West Hills, northwest of Los Angeles, on the border of L.A. and Ventura counties, has charred 960 acres and briefly forced mandatory evacuations. It is now investigated as arson with a suspect in custody. The fire, called the Kenneth Fire, was first spotted
UPDATED thruout: A fast-moving wildfire that broke out earlier Thursday afternoon near West Hills, northwest of Los Angeles, on the border of L.A. and Ventura counties, has charred 960 acres and briefly forced mandatory evacuations. It is now investigated as an arson with a suspect in custody.
The fire, called the Kenneth Fire, was first spotted at about 2:30 p.m. north of the Ventura (101) Freeway near Valley Circle Boulevard. It was initially reported at 50 acres, and had burned 960 acres by 5:30 p.m., pushed by relentless Santa Ana winds.
There are no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued initially for an area between Vanowen and Burbank Boulevard, from County Lane Road east to Valley Circle Boulevard, but shortly before 5:30 p.m., the mandatory order was reduced to an evacuation warning, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Watch on Deadline
Evacuation warnings that were issued for an area bordered by Ingomar and Saticoy Streets south to Burbank Boulevard, from Valley Circle Boulevard east to Woodlake Avenue, have been lifted.
As residents in the evacuation zones were allowed to return home, LAPD launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. The police had responded to reports of a man attempting to light a fire on Ybarra Road in Woodland Hills who had been held down by residents until law enforcement arrived. He has been arrested, with LAPD Senior Lead Officer Sean Dinse telling KTLA that the fire is being investigated as a crime.
A red flag warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Friday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Discover more from World Byte News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.