Angeles National Forest fire grows to 1,400 acres, 15% contained

A wildfire in the Angeles National Forest and Santa Clarita has burned more than 1,400 acres and was 15% contained Friday, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

New evacuations were ordered at 5 a.m. for homes on a one-mile stretch of San Francisquito Canyon Road as the fire fanned by strong winds pushed through the Angeles National Forest north of Castaic.

Hundreds of firefighters battled the Powerhouse fire, which broke out shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday near a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power station in San Francisquito Canyon near Drinkwater Reservoir, officials said.

PHOTOS: Powerhouse fire

Air operations were suspended Thursday night but eight fixed-wing aircraft were expected to resume fire retardant-drop runs Friday morning.

The weather forecast shows a difficult day ahead for firefighters as the National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for valleys and mountains from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles because of heat and wind.

“Heat is going to be our big enemy,” Los Angeles County Fire Department inspector Anthony Akins told The Times.

Temperatures could reach 96 degrees in Santa Clarita with wind gusts up to 45 mph, the National Weather Service predicted. Temperatures are expected to be even higher Saturday, though the wind is expected to die down.

The flames are consuming dried-out heavy brush and chaparral in the steep, rugged terrain not far from Castaic Lake.

At least one structure was consumed as the fire raged across the area.

A helicopter had been dispatched Thursday afternoon to search for hikers whom authorities believed were lost in the forest. All seven were eventually accounted for.

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