CA-ANF- Sesnon IC - Wildland Fire - 14,375 acres, 90%

Update: 10-17-08 1100hrs - Sesnon (CA-LAC-08246455) 14,375 acres, 90% contained. Transition to jurisdictional agencies is planned to occur on Sunday, 10/19 at 0700 hrs.
Update: 10-14-08 1100hrs - The fire has burned about 13,285 acres and is 20% contained. 72 structures were damaged or destroyed, all in the Los Angeles City and County areas.
2,338 firefighters from the Ventura County, Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City fire departments are engaged in the fire attack at this time along with firefighters from fire agencies across California.
Suppression costs are $2,500,000 and the cause remains under investigation.
The fire began in the area of Sesnon Blvd. and Tampa Ave. in Porter Ranch. The main body of the fire remains north of HY 118 along the Ventura/Los Angeles County line.
Heavy winds will continue creating the potential for erratic fire behavior. All residents in the vicinity are urged to make preparations now in case evacuations should be ordered in their area.
Update: 10-14-08 1600hrs - 13,285 acres and is 20% contained. 72 structures were damaged or destroyed, all in the Los Angeles City and County areas. Some evacuations have been lifted in the Porter Ranch area.
Evacuations lifted for:
Box Canyon, Bell Canyon, Lake Manor, Woolsey Canyon, Lilac Lane,
Porter Ranch: North of the Ronald Reagan (118) Fwy., east of the Los Angeles County line, West of Reseda Blvd,: South of the Ronald Reagan Fwy, east of Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Update: 10-14-08 1100hrs - This fire probably exceeds 10,000 acres.
Update: 10-14-08 0800hrs - Sesnon - CA-LAC-08246455 9,872 acres, 0% containment. The 118 Freeway will continue to be intermittently closed as needed for firefighting operations to be conducted safely. Any closures will be coordinated with CHP. CAL FIRE ICT6 joined the Unified Command with the Los Angels County Fire Department, Los Angeles City FD, Ventura County FD, LA Co Sheriff, LA City PD and Ventura Co Sheriff. Conejo Base Camp now operational.Fire is cooling off, header has diminished, Staging full of 24 hour off resources, air show still working the fire today, Head up! -Still strong winds and low humidities in the fire area she could pick up again.
Update: 10-14-08 0700hrs - At least 19 residential structures have burned.
Update: 19:00hrs -Sesnon (CA-LAC-08246455), 7,000+ acres, 0% containment. There are several communities currently threatened including Woosley Canyon, Box Canyon, Lake Manor , Daton Canyon, Brown Canyon, Twin Lakes, Bell Canyon, Hidden Hills and Calabasas. High-tension power lines are threatened. The 118 Freeway and Highway 101 are currently threatened by the fire, these are major travel and commerce corridors. At 1600 LA County ICT 2 and CAL FIRE ICT 6 arrived at the incident and joined Unified Command with LA City Fire, Ventura County Fire, LA Co. Sheriff and LA Police. On 10/14/2008 at 0600 base camp will be operational at the Conejo Creek Park . Operational briefing will take place at 0600 at Conejo Cam
Update: 18:00hrs - 5350+ acres,
Update: 16:00hrs -Fire is heading towards Bell Canyon, Box Canyon next. LAFD Captain Brian Bolton - immediate evacuation for Box Canyon, Bell Canyon, Brown Canyon, Dayton Canyon, and Twin Lake.
Values at Risk next 12 hours: Heavily populated communities, schools, power lines and essential communication equipment/links.
Unconfirmed reports of a oil field on fire.
Weather: Peak Gusts (mph): 56
Max. Temperature: 62
Wind Direction: SSW
Min. Relative Humidity: 16
RED FLAG CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
The fire may burn all the way to the ocean/Malibu Ventura area. The DC-10 Air Tanker T-910 is working the fire now.
Update: 13:00hrs -2,500+ acres, 0% containment. Sesnon (CA-LAC-08246455, formerly the “ Oat Mountain ” Fire), Fire jumped State Hwy. 118 in the Porter Ranch area. Winds gusts are 60 to 70 mph. Hwy 118 is closed at Reseda. CALFIRE I.C. Hodson (Team 6) has been diverted and mobilized to this incident.At least one residential structure is burning in Porter Ranch at this time. Critical Fire Weather: Winds gusting at over 40 mph some humidity level readings currently as low as 7%
Update: 12:30hrs -Fatal Traffic accident w/vehicle fire on the 118 freeway near Porter Ranch evacuations.
Update: 12:30hrs - Fire has jumped the 118 Freeway, which is now closed. Sustained winds exceeding 20 miles an hour with gust's to 35 miles an hour at 18% humidity. The fire is impacting the freeway and cars are trapped in gridlock trying to turn around. Freeway traffic is moving opposite of normal direction in all lanes of the 118 freeway. Fatal Traffic accident in on 118 freeway near Porter Ranch.
Firefighters, residents and horse's fleeing exploding firestorm in Brown Canyon.
Update: 12:00hrs - 750 acres wind driven fire, Ranches and Homes off of Desota in Browns Canyon currently threatened. Unofficially this fire probably exceeds 1000 acres at this time.
Update: 11:30hrs - 500 acres 0% - Evacuations: Twin Lakes and Indian Hills.
Very powerful sustained winds.
.Update: 11:00hrs -100 - 200 acres 0%, Los Angeles County Officials calling for voluntary evacuations of Porter Ranch, Renaissance community ( These new homes were built to fire safe standards with good clearances) Fire is just across small road from these homes at this time.. Very strong wind gusts now occurring and affecting air Op's. Huge smoke plume rolling out towards Chatsworth.
IA: 10:49 am., Monday October, 13, 2008, Full wildland response to new vegetation fire about eight miles due Northwest of Mareck fire in Porter Ranch area of the Santa Susana mountains
Location: 10:30hrs -New start near oil fields - Sesnon and Via Palidino, Tampa, in the San Fernando Valley.,This fire is in the Porter Ranch area about a mile from Renaissance home development.
Resources:
Updated: 1330hrs - Summary: 8 T1 crews, 4 T2 copters, 10 Single resource engines, 3 Strike Teams engines, , 2 strike teams dozer, 2 water tenders, 30 overhead, 268 total personnel (LAC)
LAFD, LACFD, Ventura County FD, LAPD, LASD, Three Aircraft including Firecrane, LAFD Firehawk and a super scooper have been working this fire since about 10:30 am
Closures: Highway 118 is closed due to smoke drift
Fuels: Grass and light brush along ridge line, moving into oaks.
Fire Behavior: Fire burning to the Southwest, Down canyon winds, Huge header much larger than Merck fire smoke column, Fast rate of spread fire has doubled in size in 30 minutes.
Comms: Air to ground 167.590, LAFD 18 856.7625, LAFD 2 859.9375, LAFD 13 857.4375, LAFD 9 857.2375, LAFD 3 858.9375, LAPD 42 507.0125, LACFD 4 470.5125, LAFD Command 860.7625, LACoFD Command 470.5125, LASD C-TAC-1 482.8125
Live video: abclocal.go.com - KABC
Note: Large Natural gas and oil well fields in this area.