Towsley Fire Blackens 167 Acres In Santa Clarita

Los Angeles CA

20 January, 2021

8:19 PM

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SANTA CLARITA, CA — A brush fire that broke out in the Santa Clarita area amid fierce Santa Ana wind conditions has blackened 167 acres and was 17% contained Wednesday. The fire was reported at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in light-to-medium brush near the 24000 block of The Old Road, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Winds of 20-25 mph were reported in the area at the time the fire started, but much stronger gusts were recorded in the area later Tuesday. The fire was listed at 10% contained overnight, but after daybreak Wednesday, the county fire department upped that figure to 17%. In an update about 3:30 p.m., fire department spokesman Sean Ferguson said more than 300 firefighters were still on scene working to put out smoldering areas. "It is still windy and we're concerned for the winds over the next day or so, however we are starting to get a good handle on it," Ferguson said, noting that crews hiked with the hose line about a mile from the road to reach the area where the fire started. "It was certainly an arduous and difficult task," he said of the hike. A red flag warning for extreme fire danger expired Tuesday night, but the National Weather Service said brief-to-critical fire weather conditions would persist Wednesday, with gusts up to 55 mph expected in the Santa Clarita Valley. The winds caused two large trees to fall over in Santa Clarita on Tuesday -- one in the 25700 block of North Hogan Drive, and one on McBean Parkway near Granary Square. No injuries were reported. City News Service