City of Santa Clarita, CA

November 5, 2007 - L.A. County Assesor Info

The Los Angeles County Assesor's Office is proactively working towards processing property tax relief for qualitfying property owners as soon as possible.

If your property has suffered damage of $10,000 or more as a result of the recent fires in Los Angeles County, you are eligible for a reduction in your property taxes. Your property will be reappraised and you will receive a corrected tax bill or refund. The adjustment and proration of taxes will be based upon the reduction in value from the date of damage to the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2008.

Click here to download the Application for Reassessment of Property Damaged or Destroyed by Misfortune or Calamity. The application must be filed within 12 months of the occurrence of the damage.

Visit http://assessor.lacounty.gov for more info.

October 31, 2007 - Blue Cross Info

Blue Cross of California Medi-Cal and Healthy Families members that have been impacted by the recent fires in the Santa Clarita Valley may receive assistance with their medical and pharmaceutical needs from the staff at the Blue Cross of California Los Angeles Community Resource Center. The telephone number at the Community Resource Center is 818-655-1255, or the Health Promotion Consultant may be contacted at kathy.grant@wellpoint.com

October 26, 2007 - AIR QUALITY ADVISORY

South Coast Air Quality Management District Urges Individuals to Curtail Outdoor Activities in Areas Affected by Smoke.

All outdoor City recreation programs will be cancelled until the unhealthful air advisory by the Air Quality Management District is lifted.

In areas where unhealthful air quality is forecast, as well as anywhere that smoke is seen or smelled or ash is falling:

everyone should avoid all vigorous exertion, indoors or out;
residents with heart disease, respiratory diseases including asthma, as well as the elderly and children should remain indoors;
keep windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot inside. In these cases, seek alternate shelter; and
turn on an air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to minimize outdoor smoke entering the house.

October 25, 2007 - UPDATE - 1:30pm

The LACO Fire Department will be conducting a controlled burn to remove remaining fuel sources in burn areas within the next few hours. If you see smoke in the area, please do not become alarmed.

October 25, 2007 - 11:30am

The Optimist Club of Santa Clarita is accepting monetary donations & gift cards for Jim Tindall, Head's Up Therapy Operations Director, who was badly burned and has lost everything.

Checks should be made out to: SCV Newhall Optimist Club, for Jim Tindall & Family.

The mailing address is: P.O. Box 1446, Canyon Country, 91351.

October 25, 2007 - 11:00am

With the wildfires still burning, we have lost many units of blood due to cancelled blood drives. The Santa Clarita Valley Blood Donor Center is closed and in turn assisting those affected by the local disaster. As the American Red Cross assists those in need, firefighters work to put out the fires in Santa Clarita and surrounding communities and hospital workers at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital continue to care for those who have been hurt or are suffering from the fire’s aftermath, let’s do what we can and help by donating blood in our local community. Come and donate at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital.

Click https://www.givelife.org/index.cfm?group=registration&hlc=henrymayo&pos=1 to make an appointment or e-mail mistrybs@henrymayo.com

Nov. 8, 2007, from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., at the Henry Mayo/COC Clinical Education Center

October 25, 2007 - LOCAL ASSISTANCE CENTER - 10:15am

On behalf of the City of Santa Clarita and the County of Los Angeles, Supervisor Mike Antonovich's office, there is a local assistance center that will open in the Santa Clarita Valley. Because this is a federally-declared disaster, FEMA may be able to provide residents with recovery assistance.
Your first step is to call 1-800-621-FEMA or logo onto: www.fema.gov. TTY is 1-800-462-7585.
Once you register either by phone or online, you can then access the locally-established Local Assistance Centers at:

The City's Sports Complex & Activities Center
Canyon Rooms A and B
20850 Centre Pointe Parkway
Santa Clarita, CA 91350

&

Castaic Sports Complex
31230 North Castaic Road
Castaic, CA 91384

Hours for both centers:

Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 7:00 pm

Saturday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Sunday 9:00 am- 2:00 pm

October 25, 2007 - ASSISTANCE INFO - 9:30am

If you or anyone you know is in need of public services such as child care, health services, CalWORKs, food stamps or general relief, social security information, housing, consumer protection and more, please visit www.LACountyHelps.org. This website offers information about what services are available, where they are located, how to apply and includes a brief, anonymous, self-screening eligibility questionnaire.

October 24, 2007 - FEMA INFO - 5:00pm

The Agency said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.fema.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers for California will operate 24 hours Monday through Sunday.

October 24, 2007 - UPDATE - 3:00pm

Fire Operations is reporting that a fire at Bouquet Canyon and Seco Canyon is a small flare-up. They are confident there are adequate resources at the site to handle it.

October 24, 2007 - SCE UPDATE - 11:30am

Southern California Edison crews are working diligently to restore power to affected residents as quickly as possible. Current ETA is approximately 1:00am tomorrow morning.

Saugus Area - 32 customers out, due to poles knocked down. Areas include Esquerra Drive, Luzon Drive, Rola Road, Galton Road.

Castaic Area - 49 customers out, due to poles knocked down. Areas include Oak Canyon Road, Borton Street, Ayala Road, Burlwood Drive, and Gilmore Road.

October 24, 2007 - RANCH/CASTAIC UPDATE - 10:45

Currently this fire is 45% contained. It has burned over 51,000 acres. It started Oct. 20 near Townsand Peak, southwest of Templin Hwy and I-5 in the Angeles National Forest. More than 1200 fire personnel have responded to this wildland fire. The Santa Clarita area is currently NOT threatened by this fire.

October 24, 2007 - UPDATE - 10:30am:

Valid Wednesday, October 24 and Thursday, October 25, 2007

Smoke and ash from numerous wildfires have caused unhealthy particulate matter concentrations throughout much of the South Coast Air Basin. While the strong Santa Ana winds have decreased, wildfires continue to burn in numerous locations and recirculation of offshore smoke and ash is a strong possibility. Smoke and ash from wildfires are expected to continue to affect air quality today. As a result, concentrations of fine particulates are predicted to remain in the Unhealthy category throughout the Basin on Wednesday.

Everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion in smoke impacted areas; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors. Keep your windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot inside. In these cases, seek alternate shelter. Run your air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.

For more tips on avoiding health impacts from the smoke, see http://www.aqmd.gov/pubinfo/factsheets.htm on AQMD’s website.

October 24, 2007 - UPDATE - 10am:

Buckweed Fire: (Santa Clarita, Agua Dulce areas) This fire is now 94% contained. There are no deaths as a result of this or any of the fires in Los Angeles County. A total of 5,500 homes were threatened and over 38,000 acres have burned.

Magic Fire: (Magic Mountain and Stevenson Ranch areas) This is 100% contained, no structures were lost or threatened. A total of more than 2,800 acres burned.

Los Angeles County Fire Officials are reporting 80% containment of the Buckweed Incident.

Road Closure Updates:

The College of the Canyons Valencia and Canyon Country campuses will be OPEN for classes and normal business operations Wednesday, October 24. Classes were canceled Monday and Tuesday due to multiple fires in the area and unhealthful air quality. Updated information is available at: www.canyons.edu and www.canyoncountrycampus.com.

Santa Clarita Valley schools are expected to open tomorrow, Wednesday 10/24. Please contact your school's district for details. Visit: http://www.santa-clarita.com/community/schools/ for district information.

ACTON INCIDENT: 14 FWY near Angeles National Forest and Aliso Canyon. No homes in the vinicity.

BUCKWEED INCIDENT: Local news agencies are reporting that the Buckweed fire is not a threat to the City of Santa Clarita at this time.

CASTAIC "RANCH" INCIDENT: It is being reported that evacuations have occurred for Chiquita Canyon, Hasley, Val Verde, Romero, and Hopper Canyon areas. Residents are requested to go to the Fillmore Vetrans Memorial Center. This fire has burned 54,000 acres, is 10% contained and is moving is a westerly direction, away from Santa Clarita.

MAGIC INCIDENT: Local news agencies are reporting that not a threat to the City of Santa Clarita at this time.

WILDWOOD CANYON INCIDENT: Earlier fire activity was reported in the Wildwood Canyon area. Local news sources are saying that this incident is no longer active.

ROAD CLOSURES: Residents ONLY are being allowed into Val Verde.

No evacuations have been ordered in Val Verde /Castaic

October 23, 2007 - SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON UPDATE - 11:30am

Southern California Edison crews work through the night responding to damaging winds and wildfires SCE’s transmission and distribution systems continue to be damaged by high winds and wildfires. At this time, few if any outages have been reported within the City of Santa Clarita.

All available Southern California Edison (SCE) and contract crews are in the field working around the clock to restore service disrupted by the severe conditions affecting multiple areas of the utility's service territory. In some cases, SCE crews have not yet been permitted to enter areas affected by wildfires because of uncertain fire conditions. Some customers in areas hard hit by the Southland wildfires could be without electric services for more than 24 hours.

Storm repairs continue. Some areas are inaccessible due to fires. The Santiago Canyon fire continues to threaten the 2-220kV lines, which may cause an interruption to the same 88 circuits as occurred on 10/22

Safety Reminders
SCE reminds its customers of the following electrical safety tips during wind storms:

San Francisquito Canyon has re-opened to residents only in both directions at Copper Hill, Lowridge and Spunky Canyon. Residents will be asked to show ID.

Per CHP, Bouquet Canyon is now open TO RESIDENTS ONLY from David Way/Shadow Valley to Lombardi Ranch. Once all emergency equipment has been cleared, Bouquet Canyon will be open to residents only past Lombardi Ranch. Vasquez Canyon remains closed at Bouquet Canyon until further notice.

As of 7:30 p.m. San Francisquito Canyon has re-opened to all traffic in both directions at Copper Hill, Lowridge and Spunky Canyon.

The City of Santa Clarita Emergency Operations Center will stand down at 7:00pm, with the disater hotline continuing to provide recorded information for residents throughout the evening. City Staff will continue to update the City's website throughout the evening as warranted.

What is the status of the Stevenson Ranch fire? The fire west of I-5 continues to burn. Residents are advised to continue watching local news and to tune into AM 1220 KHTS for the latest updates.

Are the freeways open? Yes, I-5 and Hwy 14 are open to all traffic at this time.

Are Volunteers needed to help with the fire? The best way to assist fire crews is to stay off local roads unless necessary.

Is Pitchess Detention Center being evacuated? No, there are no evacuations for PDC at this time.

Is Copper Hill still being evacuated? There are no evacuations in the City at this time.

Is Plum Canyon Open? Yes, Plum Canyon is open to ALL traffic at this time. The only current road closures are as follows:

Per CHP, all roads west of the Old Road into Stevenson Ranch/Westridge are open.

Road Closure Update: According to the CHP, Sierra Hwy is now OPEN. Vasquez Canyon is still CLOSED at Sierra Hwy.

Road Closure Update: Shadow Valley Road (Bouquet Canyon/David Way) is NO LONGER open to residents.

Road Closures All major roads west of The Old Road (McBean/Stevenson Ranch, Valencia Blvd. and Pico Canyon Rd.) are open to RESIDENTS ONLY.

Time Warner Cable is experiencing intermittent service interruptions as a result of high winds, commercial power outages and wild fires across the region. Our Santa Clarita facility in particular, is very close to a fire evacuation site, but as of now, still deemed safe by local emergency personnel. Access to the site and surrounding areas however, is limited.

Currently, there are a number of outages in progress (approximately three times the average volume), which is attributable to commercial power outages and associated plant damage. Time Warner Cable is working diligently to quickly restore any lost services while maintaining employee safety and coordination with local emergency officials.

Road Update: Bouquet Canyon Road/David Way is OPEN to Shadow Valley Rd. RESIDENTS ONLY beyond that point.

The City's Building and Safety Division is performing damage assessments on a total of 14 homes within the city limits. 7 homes are considered a "total loss", 7 are considered a "partial loss".

Road Closure Correction: Whites Canyon and Steinway is NOT open to residents at this time. Whites Canyon is still open to Steinway.

The Hillcrest area is open to residents with ID at this time. Hillcrest Pkwy remains closed at Sloan Canyon Rd..

Effective 2:15 p.m. all mandatory evacuation notices in the City of Santa Clarita, east of I-5, north of Copper Hill and east into the Canyon Country area have been lifted.

Road closures remain in place in all affected areas. Local residents must show identification to access the following two areas:

Mandatory evacuations in the Castaic area and west of I-5 in the Halsey Canyon area remain in effect.

Updated Road Closure Information: Whites Canyon is closed Northbound at Soledad.

Mandatory Evacuation: Hillcrest Area (Castaic) North of Hasley Canyon to the Old Road

SHELTER IN PLACE: All structures at Bouquet Canyon Road and Plum Canyon Road - northwest to Copper Hill Drive and west to Haskell Canyon Road, including all areas in and around Bouquet Canyon Park.

South Coast Air Quality Management District - SMOKE & WINDBLOWN DUST ADVISORY - Valid Monday October 22 and Tuesday 23, 2007

Smoke and ash from numerous wildfires and windblown dust from strong winds have caused elevated PM10 particulate matter concentrations throughout must of the South Coast Air Basin. The strong Santa Ana wind event that is bringing gusty winds from the northeast through and below the passes and canyons of the Basin is expected to continue through Tuesday. Concentrations of fine particulate matter have reached the Unhealthy level, or higher, in numerous areas directly impacted by smoke.

All individuals are urged to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in the smoke and dust impacted areas throughout the Basin. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion in smoke and dust impacted areas.

An emergency phone number has been created by the City for information updates regarding the Buckweed Incident. If you know of residents who may not be able to access this web site, please direct to call

Mandatory Evacuation: North of Copper Hill from Decoro Dr. to Bouquet Canyon/David Way.

At this time the fire is moving towards the Tesoro del Valle development off San Fransquito Canyon, and the San Fransquito Canyon area, north of Copper Hill. Residents in these areas are urged to prepare for a probable evacuation.

The following road closures are still in affect:

Sierra Highway from Davenport to Soledad Cyn.

Newhall School District has cancelled all classes for today, Monday, October 22nd.

At 5:30 a.m. the Castaic Union School District reached a decision to cancel all classes for today, Monday, October 22nd.

400 L.A. CO. FIRE PERSONNEL RESPONDING TO THE BUCK WEED FIRE (600 BY TOMORROW A.M.)

A TOTAL OF 500-800 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EVACUATED THUS FAR IN THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY.

THE PUBLIC IS BEING ASKED TO MINIMIZE TRAVEL ON LOCAL ROADWAYS FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO ALLOW FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS
BOUQUET CANYON FROM VASQUEZ NORTH TO SPUNKY CANYON. ALSO, SAN FRANCISQUITO CANYON, FROM COPPERHILL TO SPUNKY CANYON. FOR EVERYTHING ELSE, PEOPLE ARE ASKED TO SHELTER IN PLACE.

FOR GREEN VALLEY, THERE IS CURRENTLY A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION THROUGH TOMORROW, AT WHICH TIME IT MAY CHANGE TO MANDATORY.

SIERRA HIGHWAY IS CLOSED FROM SOLEDAD TO DAVENPORT ROAD DUE TO BURNED POWER LINES.

INJURIES: TWO MINOR AND ONE SERIOUS FOR CIVILIANS. ONE MINOR FIREFIGHTER INJURY.

SO CAL EDISON IS REPORTING THAT 875 SANTA CLARITA VALLEY CUSTOMERS ARE WITHOUT POWER TONIGHT. EDISON CREWS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO RESTORE POWER.

School Closures:
All classes for Monday October 22nd have been canceled at the East and West facilities of College of the Canyons, CalArts, the Hart Union School District, Saugus Union School District, Santa Clarita Christian, Sunshine NorthValencia (pre-school and after-school), Sunshine Wiley Canyon, Sunshine Fair Oaks, Sunshine Pine Tree, Sunshine North Lake Hills, Legacy, Trinity Christian, Rainbow Promise Pre-School and Kindergarten, Pinecrest School on Lost Canyon Road.