The Saddleridge California wildfire ignited late on Oct. 10 in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County.

According to NPR, the blaze purportedly started in the neighborhood known as Sylmar and quickly grew in scope.

Initially affecting just one acre in Sylmar, it soon became driven by dry conditions and Santa Ana winds and threatened adjacent communities on either side of Interstate 5. Granada Hills and Porter Ranch were evacuated.

CalFire indicated in the NPR article that by Oct. 12, the Saddleridge California wildfire was one-third contained after laying waste to 7,900 acres, but was a third contained. At least 1,000 firefighters from various sources were assigned to bring the blaze under control including U.S. Forest Service, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Los Angeles Police Department employees.

According to Governor Newsom, the State of California had secured funds via the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure there was an abundance of personnel available.

In a more recent report published by the Los Angeles Times, it was noted that the evacuees from the Saddleridge California wildfire, numbering in the tens of thousands, began returning to their homes late Saturday night and throughout the next day.

By the early morning hours of Sunday, the percentage of containment had grown from 33 to 41 percent and was attributed to a little change in weather. According to a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, ocean breezes laced with far more moisture than the famously arid Santa Ana winds had moved in and provided the firefighters with some assistance.

Two Related Deaths and Other Injuries

The Los Angeles Times report noted that two individuals succumbed by cardiac arrest in relationship to the Saddleridge fire. A homeowner from the Porter Ranch neighborhood who was attempting to protect his property from the blaze utilizing a simple garden hose collapsed and died on Friday.

A second individual—a long-time high-ranking employee of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks—was surveying fire-damaged parks in the San Fernando Valley when he passed out. He later died in a hospital on Saturday morning.

Three firefighters were reported to be injured while battling the blaze. The injuries were relatively minor.

SoCal Edison Implicated

ABC7 News reported hat a witness has come forward indicating that he saw the start of the Saddleridge fire burning at the base of an electrical transmission tower belonging to Southern California Edison Thursday night. The tower was behind the witness’s home.

It will take some time to determine actual causation for the blaze through an investigative process. The Los Angeles Times says this area had not had its electricity turned off by Edison on Wednesday as had other regional neighborhoods for fear of wildfire in Santa Ana conditions.

Reports say at least 30 structures were affected by the Saddleridge wildfire. Sixteen single family homes and two apartment buildings were completely consumed while at least nine homes and two other unidentified buildings were damaged.

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