Ventura County braces for Saddleridge Fire should Santa Anas change direction

Ventura County firefighters were "staying at the ready" Friday should the raging Saddleridge Fire in nearby Los Angeles County cross into the Simi Valley area, authorities said. 

No evacuation orders have been issued for the eastern part of the county but a shelter opened early Friday at the Rancho Santa Susana Community Center just in case, according to Simi Valley Police Chief David Livingstone. 

The center is located at 5005 E. Los Angeles Ave. in Simi Valley and also serves as overflow for Los Angeles residents impacted by the blaze, said Alia Baughn, an American Red Cross volunteer. 

The Saddleridge Fire was reported about 9 p.m. Thursday and started in the San Fernando Valley near the Yarnell Road exit off the 210 Freeway. Under gusty Santa Ana winds and dry conditions the blaze exploded overnight and made a run toward Ventura County. 

The latest: Fire burning in Ventura Friday, Simi Valley schools close

The brush fire that started in Sylmar Oct. 10 was making its way across the hillsides near Chatsworth and Highway 118 the following day.

By Friday morning, the winds changed direction and the blaze was moving toward Los Angeles, said Ventura County Fire Department Capt. Brian McGrath.

"Right now, the weather is working in our favor so we're just watching it and paying attention to what's happening. We’re just staying at the ready," McGrath said. 

When evacuating, Simi Valley police reminded residents to take forms of identification, cash and credit cards, important documents, keys, medications, electronics, basic hygiene supplies, irreplaceable items and supplies for pets. 

Close to 700 Southern California Edison customers living in communities in and around Simi Valley were some of the first to lose power shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday. As of mid-Friday, the power was still out in at least most of those areas.

Edison de-energized lines as part of its so-called public safety power shutoffs triggered by the gusty Santa Ana winds and potentially dangerous fire conditions.

Parts of Simi Valley also lost power Thursday because of damaged lines. At one point, five public schools lost power. Several hours later, power had been restored in some of those areas.

The fire had also impacted morning traffic around Highway 118, which was closed westbound at Kuehner Drive in Simi Valley. All lanes were reopened just before 11 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. 

A red-flag fire warning was in effect for both counties Friday and expected to continue through 6 p.m. Saturday. 

It's unclear what caused the Saddleridge Fire, which has destroyed at least 25 structures and burned more than 7,5000 acres, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. One person has died and a firefighter suffered a minor eye injury, fire officials said. 

The weather conditions and the blaze prompted all schools within the Simi Valley Unified School District to close Friday. Vista Real Charter School in Simi Valley was also closed, according to the Ventura County Office of Education. 

Concerns of the Saddleridge Fire crossing into Ventura County had somewhat subsided Friday morning. Still, law enforcement and firefighters continued preparations. 

Ventura County firefighters were staging in the Simi Valley area in order to quickly engage in protecting homes and other structures should the winds change, McGrath said.

Unincorporated communities like Box Canyon were getting the same treatment, McGrath said. 

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The Saddleridge fire comes across the mountains near Chatsworth and Highway 118 on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. Commuters used the Santa Susana Pass Road near Simi Valley because portions of Highway 118 was closed.

A 30-person tactical response team with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office moved into the Box Canyon area overnight to help with any possible evacuations, said sheriff's Capt. Eric Hatlee. 

Team members train with county fire crews once a year so they can understand fire behavior but with windy conditions that behavior can be more erratic, Hatlee said. 

Extra Simi Valley police officers have been staffed and are on standby in case the fire turns, Livingstone said. Additional shelter locations are also on standby, he said. 

The shelter at the Rancho Santa Susana Community Center has been open since 2 a.m., said Baughn, shelter manager. 

“We just weren’t sure what the fire was going to do overnight, so we wanted to be ready," Baughn said. 

She volunteered at this same location nearly a year ago when the Woolsey Fire broke out. 

“I was kind of expecting this to happen again because we all kind of knew what the weather was doing, so we’ve been preparing all year to do it again." Baughn said. 

No one was at the shelter as of noon Friday but it was expected to remain open until authorities say otherwise, said Nicole Maul, a spokeswoman for Red Cross of Ventura County. 

If evacuations are ordered, the Simi Valley site of Ventura County Animal Services is expected to bring resources to the shelter so residents can bring their pets, Maul said. 

For evacuation information for Ventura County residents, visit https://www.vcemergency.com/

For fire updates for Los Angeles County residents, visit https://www.lafd.org/news/saddleridge-brush-fire.

Staff writers Erin Rode and Cheri Carlson contributed to this report. 

Megan Diskin is a courts and breaking news reporter with The Star. Reach her at megan.diskin@vcstar.com or 805-437-0258.