Crescenta Valley residents are seeing smoke from two brush fires – one in El Sereno and another in Sylmar, dubbed the Saddle Ridge fire.
El Sereno Fire, as of 2 p.m.:
A brush fire that started in the 2800 block of N. Eastern Ave in El Sereno has burned an estimated 20 acres as of 2 p.m. It is a terrain driven fire, not wind driven, that moved into heavy brush. Firefighters continue to work their way up the terrain into heavy brush and defend the threatened homes, according to LA City Fire Dept. No evacuations have been ordered.
“We have a good handle on the fire,” said a LFD spokesperson.

Saddle Ridge Brush Fire
Update as of 1 p.m.:

Over 1,000 firefighters are battling the Saddle Ridge fire that has covered 7,542 acres. At least 25 structures have been destroyed. Super scoopers and Sky Crane water dropping aircraft are in operation.

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for about 23,000 homes. There has been one civilian who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. One firefighter reported a minor eye injury.

The freeways that remain closed are:
Southbound 5 freeway from Calgrove Blvd to the 210 freeway. Northbound 5 from Roxford St to Calgrove Blvd. Eastbound and westbound 210 freeway between the 118 and 5 freeways. Southbound 14 freeway from Highway 126 to the 5 freeway. Northbound 405 freeway from the 118 freeway to the 5 freeway. Southbound and westbound 118 freeway from Balboa Blvd to DeSoto Ave. Containment is at 13%.