- A brush fire named the Pointe Fire broke out Wednesday afternoon in Santa Clarita, burning approximately 5 acres.
- The fire was reported just before 1:40 p.m. at 21380 Centre Pointe Parkway.
- Evacuation warnings have been issued for homes along Centre Pointe Parkway near the intersection of Golden Valley and Soledad Canyon Road.
- Fire officials warn the fire could grow to 100 acres within the next hour under worsening conditions.
- Structures are threatened and a second-alarm fire was requested about an hour after the initial report.
- Residents are urged to stay alert and monitor evacuation information via Genasys Protect.
Fast-Moving Brush Fire Prompts Emergency Response
A brush fire erupted in Santa Clarita on Wednesday afternoon, triggering a large-scale emergency response and evacuation warnings for nearby residents. The blaze, dubbed the Pointe Fire, was reported just before 1:40 p.m. at 21380 Centre Pointe Parkway. As of the latest update, the fire has burned approximately five acres with no containment. Structures are threatened in the area, and about an hour after the initial report, a second-alarm fire was requested.
Evacuation Warnings and Firefighting Efforts
Homes along Centre Pointe Parkway, near the intersection of Golden Valley and Soledad Canyon Road, are under an evacuation warning. Officials advise residents to prepare to leave immediately and to consider leaving now if they need more time to evacuate. Firefighters are working to contain the blaze, deploying both ground and aerial resources. Fire officials have indicated that the fire has the potential to grow to as much as 100 acres within the next hour if conditions worsen. Residents in the area are urged to remain alert, monitor official evacuation information through Genasys Protect, and be prepared to leave if conditions change.
Local California Context
Santa Clarita, located in Los Angeles County, is a high-risk area for wildfires due to dry brush, low humidity, high temperatures, and strong winds. Recent fire activity in the region has included incidents near Stevenson Ranch and Val Verde, where firefighters successfully slowed forward progress. The Pointe Fire underscores the ongoing wildfire threat in Southern California, particularly during the summer months.
Background
Wildfires are a recurring challenge in Santa Clarita and surrounding areas, often driven by Santa Ana winds and dry vegetation. In recent years, multiple fires have threatened communities, leading to evacuations and significant firefighting efforts. The Pointe Fire is the latest in a series of incidents highlighting the need for preparedness and rapid response.
Conclusion
The Pointe Fire remains an active incident, with firefighters working to contain the blaze and protect nearby homes. Residents should stay informed through official channels and be ready to evacuate if conditions escalate. As the situation develops, authorities will provide updates on containment progress and any changes to evacuation status.
Sources and Materials
In an update at 4 p.m., the fire department said forward progress had been stopped on the fire at 52 acres, and crews had reached 32% containment. No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported. Still, an evacuation warning is in place for residents in zone SCL-CARLBOYER as crews battle hot spots in the extreme heat.
According to nearby residents, a neighborhood just about 50 yards from the fire is an entire community of military veterans. Neighbors say that although there have been fires in the area before, they have never seen a blaze this close to homes. "I mean, it's not the first time it's happened, but it's definitely the worst," resident Chris Landgren said. "I saw the whole living room turned a different color. A neighbor called and said, 'How close is the fire?' And I walked out, and that whole thing was just an inferno. So I grabbed my dogs, and my mother was staying over, so we grabbed her, and as quick as we could, we got out. And then I just walked back to grab her medicine and the medicine for my dogs."
Jonathan Torres with the Los Angeles County Fire Department told Eyewitness News that just under 200 personnel were on the ground, helping to battle the blaze. Crews also had two firehawks and two helitankers in the sky, making water drops. A bulldozer was also on the scene, putting up a perimeter on the ground.
"It's July. Vegetation's dry. It's hot today. It's approaching near triple-digits up here. Fortunately, in this part of town, we have not had strong winds," said Aaron Katon with L.A. County Fire. "You go up by the I-5 corridor, you're going to see gusts up to 30 mph tonight, out into Ventura County and Santa Barbara, the same. But fortunately, because we didn't have such high winds, that we were able to get such a good jump on this thing."
Firefighters were assisted by strategically placed fire breaks in the area, which are dirt roads that provide a barrier between areas of brush. "We're going to be on scene for hours still to come. Going through, mopping it up, making sure that there is not a single ember that poses a threat," Katon said.
A reunification point was established at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center, located at 20850 Centre Point Parkway, according to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station. Metrolink trains were temporarily shut down between Via Princessa and Newhall.
Video also showed a bee colony right outside the perimeter of the fire. Torres said officials were aware of the colony and were working to protect it. A bulldozer was seen actively pushing the fire away from the colony as water drops were made overhead.
The fire comes on the hottest day of Southern California's summer heat wave. Much of the region is under an Extreme Heat Warning. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Dramatic video captured young students being rushed to their families’ vehicles with flames burning right next to a school. Firefighters continued battling the Pointe Fire Wednesday afternoon in an effort to keep the blaze from reaching homes along Carl Boyer Drive and Doreen Place. The fire had burned an estimated 58 acres and was 32% contained, with forward progress successfully halted by 4 p.m.
A preschool near Center Pointe Parkway and Golden Triangle Road has been placed under a shelter-in-place order. The William S. Hart Union High School District board meeting scheduled for tonight at 7 has been postponed.
The Pointe Fire burned near Bowman High School, prompting an evacuation warning for the area around Center Pointe Parkway, south of Soledad Canyon Road and Golden Valley Road. A reunification center was opened at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center. At least two helicopters assisted in firefighting efforts. Metrolink trains were temporarily shut down between Via Princessa and Newhall Avenue.
Los Angeles County Fire Department officials noted that two strike teams were pre-positioned in the Santa Clarita Valley, allowing them to quickly get a handle on the blaze. More crews will be pre-positioned in the area on Thursday. An extreme heat warning is also in effect, with afternoon temperatures in Santa Clarita reaching 103 degrees.
According to the L.A. County Fire Department, a second alarm response was requested at 2:08 p.m. The evacuation warning area encompasses Centre Pointe Parkway, bounded by Soledad Canyon Road to the north and Golden Valley Road to the east, with the fire burning into the foothills to the west near Springbrook Avenue and to the south near Cardiff and Parvin drives. Metrolink tracks were reopened as of 4:27 p.m., but trains were operating with speed restrictions in the area.
Surveillance cameras from behind one home captured the Pointe Fire turn from a cloud of smoke to a full-blown brush fire in less than a minute. The fire came within feet of some homes.
Cloaked in heavy gear in triple-digit temperatures, firefighters working a break line and single-man crews soaking the burnt hillside stopped the Pointe Fire from advancing, sparing the homes and lives of dozens of veterans and their families.
As fire choppers doused flames from the air, people in the military neighborhood rushed to save neighbors' pets and grabbed hoses to protect their turf. A nearby preschool sent small children to safety across town at a reunification point set up by local officials.
AIR7 video from shortly before 3 p.m. showed smoke billowing over Soledad Canyon Road. Residents in the nearby neighborhood were seen exiting their homes and loading up their cars.
According to CalFire, the Pointe Fire had burned approximately 58 acres as of around 4 p.m. since it sparked earlier in the afternoon. The fire is currently 0% contained, but forward progress was halted at 4 p.m., according to L.A. County firefighters. No structures were destroyed and no deaths or injuries were reported. Up-to-date evacuation information for L.A. County can be found online. Evacuation warnings are in effect for zone SCL-CARLBOYER. Authorities say those in the evacuation warning zone should be prepared to evacuate, and those who require additional time to evacuate should leave immediately. An evacuation shelter has been opened at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center, 20850 Centre Pointe Pkwy., Santa Clarita. Metrolink trains were shut down between Via Princessa and Newhall Avenue.