Fire officials plan to reevaluate evacuation orders Tuesday morning after crews appeared to get the upper hand on a wildfire that burned more than 200 acres when it sparked in a remote area of the Angeles National Forest Monday.
The blaze, dubbed the Martindale Fire, started northeast of Santa Clarita at about 2:51 p.m. in the 34500 block of Bouquet Canyon Road, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s incident information website.
The fire exploded to 200 acres in less than 30 minutes in a remote area of the forest between Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley, but it was 20% contained by the evening. Due to Monday’s red flag warning, there were additional crews who could respond to the blaze and double containment overnight to 40%, said Senaca Smith, a battalion chief with the U.S. Forest Service.
Firefighters also managed to borrow resources from the 178-square-mile Bobcat Fire, which was burning about 20 miles away and was 62% contained.
Officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for about 12 homes located along Bouquet Canyon Road from Bouquet Reservoir Dam south to mile marker 11.5.
“It’s likely that the evacuation order may be rescinded to a warning,” Smith said.
An evacuation warning was already in effect for residents from mile marker 11.5 to the Texas Canyon Ranger Station. Officials also had to shut down Bouquet Canyon Road between Vasquez Canyon and Spunky Canyon roads.
Authorities advised evacuees in need of Red Cross assistance to call 800-675-5799.
The direction the fire was burning Monday afternoon was encouraging, Smith said.
“It had a very rapid rate of spread … but the good thing is it moved away from structures in Bouquet Canyon,” she said.
Officials remain concerned that weather conditions will lead to increased fire danger Tuesday. The Forest Service expects to able to release some resources from the Martindale Fire throughout the day to get ready for any new fires.
Forecasters are calling for warmer temperatures and lower humidity the next few days. A heat advisory is in effect through Thursday evening.
