A 50-acre brush fire has broken out in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles, the LAFD said tonight, triggering evacuation orders.
The fire reported at 10:10 p.m. was “approximately 50 acres with a rapid rate of spread” and broke out at around 15986 W Yarnell St., the LAFD said in an incident report.
Evacuation orders were in effect for an area north of Interstate 210 from Roxford Street to where Interstate 5 splits with CA-14, the LAFD said.
A 25-year-old firefighter battling the Palisades Fire sustained a serious head injury, the LAFD said, and other people were found suffering from burns.
The firefighter was injured at about 8:30 p.m., a spokesperson for the Fire Department said.
At around 9 p.m., “multiple burn victims were reported walking toward a nearby restaurant,” the spokesperson said. Medical resources were directed toward them. Their conditions were not immediately available.
The Arcadia and Glendale unified school districts became the latest to announce fire-related public school closures.
The Arcadia Unified School District said all schools will close tomorrow and all events and services — including sports and after-school programs — will be canceled.
“We encourage you to take precautions at your own home, securing all outdoor furniture and ensuring windows and areas possibly vulnerable to strong winds are secured,” the district said in a news release. “Please charge your phones, Chromebooks, and other devices as power outages may increase throughout the night.”
The district said it would provide an update about operations for the rest of the week at 3 p.m. tomorrow.
The Glendale Unified School District cited the high winds and fires in the region as reasons for closing all schools, child care operations and district offices tomorrow.
“This decision was made to prioritize the safety of our students, employees, and families, as wind and fires have significantly impacted the accessibility of roadways and the air quality in our area,” Superintendent Darneika Watson said in a statement.
Malibu’s four public school campuses, which closed today amid dangerous winds and the the Pacific Palisades fire to the city’s southeast, will remain closed tomorrow, officials said.
The Pasadena Unified School District also said its campuses would be closed tomorrow as the Eaton Fire rages on the edge of the city and its leaders pondered an emergency declaration.
“The City of Pasadena is assessing whether to declare a state of emergency due to the impacts of the weather,” the district said in a statement.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District so far has not shut down Santa Monica schools, even as the nearby Palisades Fire prompted authorities to issue mandatory evacuation orders for the very north end of the city.
In a letter to families and employees tonight, that district said, “Due to safety concerns, road closures, power shut offs, high winds and fire threat, our four Malibu schools will be closed Wednesday.”
Regarding its campuses to the south, it said, it planned for Santa Monica schools to be open, barring changing conditions overnight.
