Homes Spared As 516-Acre Old Fire In Calabasas Shows Signs Of Slowing Down
CALBASAS (CBSLA.com) — The day-old 516-acre #OldFire in Calabasas spared homes and on Sunday officials said the worst seemed to be behind the area.
Sunday morning, officials said the fire was 30 percent contained. By 5 p.m., the containment level had jumped to about 80 percent.
Also on Sunday, authorities said no firefighters were injured despite high heat and rugged, steep terrain.
One commercial building was destroyed. Reports on Saturday that three homes were damaged, turned out to be erroneous.
Four structures were damaged. Officials described them as two access bridges and a couple of small, out buildings or sheds.
All mandatory evacuation orders were lifted at 6 p.m. Sunday, officials said.
Normal traffic through the area was also expected to resume at the same time.
Authorities praised the public for quickly evacuating and for keeping brush away from their homes -- both seen as critical in helping firefighters battle the blaze.
CBS2's Laurie Perez reported from the fire's command center.
Firefighters on Sunday were busy tamping down hot spots.
More than 400 firefighters battled the blaze from ground and air.
LA County Animal Services took in more than 100 animals during the evacuation order, she reported .
The animals included 87 horses, dogs and even some chickens. They were housed at Pierce College overnight.
Pryce Chrisman, 9, missed her horse but was glad she was out of harm's way.
"Because he is my first horse," Chrisman said, "and I don't want her to get hurt in a fire."
Monica McCarthy got her horse from an auction and she said he wasn't thrilled about being left again.
"When I left him here," she said, "he was really nervous."
Although one home had minor damage and three firefighters were hurt ,Perez said officials called the operation a major success.
The success was due in no small part to neighbors doing their part.
"The more clearance, the better chance your home is of being safe," said LA County Fire Department spokesperson Gus Medina.
