San Fernando blaze nears rocket factory
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The suburban hills north-west of Los Angeles were ablaze yesterday, as the first hot desert winds of the autumn season ignited brush and chaparral and threatened thousands of homes and businesses as well as a highly toxic rocket-building factory.
The worst of the damage was at the western end of the San Fernando Valley, where gated communities and suburban houses nestle beneath the Santa Susana mountains. The notorious Santa Ana winds, which bring temperatures so hot it can feel as though someone has left a radiator on full blast, threatened at one point to push the flames across the Ventura freeway and out towards the beachside mansions of Malibu.
But firefighters managed to build breaks and prevent the blazes from spreading out of control. By last night, the fires were said to be about 20 per cent contained, and cooler temperatures were likely to make the task of extinguishing them easier.
The Santa Anas, said to affect the mood of Los Angeles so drastically they often trigger a rise in the murder rate, have posed a greater fire risk in recent years because of expanding suburban development in exposed hillsides. Several towns in the San Bernardino mountains, east of Los Angeles, were devastated in fires two years ago. One of the newer developments in the San Fernando Valley is named Smokey Ridge, for good reason.
Most worrying, perhaps, was the proximity of the flames to the Rocketdyne factory, which tests rocket engines and contains numerous toxic chemicals and even radioactive material. But firefighters said the plant and buildings were so far unaffected.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments