TIME OF ALARM: 1:47 PM, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2005 LAFD INCIDENT#
0542 INCIDENT NAME: Topanga
LOCATION: Initial Dispatch-W/Bound 118 Fwy x Topanga Canyon Bl.
BRUSH TYPE: Medium to Heavy Brush.
CONDITIONS ON ARRIVAL:Initial report - was 3 acres of light to moderate brush with 20-30 mph winds....gusts up to 50 mph.
ACRES BURNED AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT: 17,000 ACRES.
STRUCTURES BURNED: 1 Single Family Dwelling, 1 Detached Garage, 3 Out Buildings, 1 Storage Building (at Rocketdyne).
REPORTED INJURIES: On Wednesday, one Los Angeles City Fire Captain was struck with a 40 lb. boulder and knocked unconscious for 5 minutesd. He was evaluated at Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, including a cat scan. He has been released and is now resting at home. On Thursday, one Los Angeles City Fire Engineer sustained an ankle injury. He was transported to a local emergency room, evaluated and placed off duty. He is now recuperating at home.
COMMAND POST: “Unified Command” for the Topanga Incident consists of Los Angeles City Fire, Los Angeles County Fire, Ventura County Fire, California Department of Forestry, and the National Park Service.
LOCATION: Conejo Creek Park South, 1379 East Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA.
AIR OPERATIONS: 6 Fixed Wing Aircraft, 4 Heavy Lift Helo, 5 Type II Helo; 2 Type III Helo.
CURRENT CONDITION: 5% Containment
TOTAL FIREFIGHTING PERSONNEL (ALL AGENCIES): 2790 PERSONNEL
UNSUAL CONDITIONS: BBI- temp = 80, Humidity 20%, High Winds 20-30 mph, Inaccessible Steep Terrain, High Winds, Low Humidity, Erratic Fire Behavior, Structures Threatened in Urban/Wildland Interface Zone. Fire Continues to Threaten Numerous Communities.
“ORDER TO EVACUATE” (YOU LEAVE YOU STAY OUT): Lake Manor, Malibu Canyon / City of Calabasas (North of Thousand Oaks Blvd.), Mountain View Estates (Western Tip Only).
“WARNING TO EVACUATE” (VOLUNTARY): Mountain View Estates (All except Western tip which is ordered), Old Agoura.
CANCELLED EVACUATION ORDERS (Allowed to Return with ID): Reyes Adobe, Lindero Canyon, Kanan Road, Oak Park, City of Hidden Hills, Box Canyon, Bell Canyon, Woolsey Canyon.
EVACUATION SHELTERS: Santa Susana Recreation Center, 5005 Los Angeles Ave, Simi Valley (Population: 15; Max Capacity: 450); Canoga Park HS, 6850 Topanga Cyn, Canoga Pk. (Population: 35; Max Capacity 100); Birmingham HS, 1700 Hayest St., Van Nuys (Population: 0; Max Capacity 500); Thousand Oaks Rec Center, 2525 Moorpark Rd., Thousand Oaks (Population 280; Maximum Capacity: 500); Borchard Community Center, 190 Reino Rd, Newbury Park (Population: 15; Maximum: 300).
ROAD CLOSURES: North Bound Kanan at the 101 Freeway, Agoura Road between Liberty Canyon and Lost Hills Rd.(down to one lane in each direction for staging purposes); Malibu Hills Road Between Agoura Rd. and Calabasas Hills Road (for staging purposes); Box Canyon at Lake Manor Drive. Topanga Canyon East and West Bound Ramps on 118 Freeway; Rocky Peak Road, East and West Bound Ramps on 118 Freeway.
EVACUATION OF LARGE ANIMALS (HORSES, CATTLE, ETC): Pierce College (Facility Full); Hansen Dam Equestrian Center; West Valley Animal Care and Control Center; Burbank Equestrian Center (Horses Only).
EVACUATION OF SMALLER ANIMALS: For Any Ventura County Resident, Camarillo Airport Animal Care and Control; Residents of Thousand Oaks that can provide proof of residency, Los Angeles County Animal Shelter; Animal Control Staff is available at the Thousand Oaks Community Center for transportation of animals to Camarillo or Simi Valley shelter (animals may be held for up to two weeks).
CAUSE OF FIRE: Under Investigation at this time.
LOS ANGELES (CITY) FIRE DEPARTMENT (LAFD)COMMITTMENT:
LAFD RESOURCES ASSIGNED:
- 75 Fire Companies
- 14 Command Teams
- 6 Rescue Ambulances
- 1 Incident Management Team supervising 2 Branches
LAFD resources are skirting the border between The City of Los Angeles, LA County, and Ventura County in the Western edge of the San Fernando Valley.
NOTE: We remind residents in the immediate path of local wildfires to be guided by and follow the lawful orders of uniformed public safety officials.
Such information - which is often specific to a location or address, may be provided door-to-door or via loudspeaker by law enforcement or fire department vehicles. Residents in high danger areas should remain
particularly vigilant for such direct, personal and focused contact.
Those who may become endangered but are not in the immediate path of advancing flames, are encouraged to stay tuned to local news radio.
In the greater Los Angeles area, official information provided by or on behalf of public safety agencies is often carried on the following news radio stations:
AM 980 - KFWB
AM 1070 - KNX
We encourage Los Angeles residents to find and “save” these stations on their battery-powered portable and vehicle radios.
Respectfully Yours in Safety and Service,
Brian Humphrey
Firefighter/Specialist
Public Service Officer
Los Angeles Fire Department
LAFD Home Page: http://www.lafd.org
LAFD News Blog: http://lafd.blogspot.com