Kenneth Wildfire 35% Contained After Charring Nearly 1,000 Acres Near West Hills – Update

UPDATED thruout: A fast-moving wildfire that broke out Thursday afternoon near West Hills, northwest of Los Angeles, on the border of L.A. and Ventura counties, has charred 960 acres and briefly forced mandatory evacuations. It is 35 percent contained and spread of the flames has been halted.

The fire, called the Kenneth Fire, was first spotted at about 2:30 p.m. north of the Ventura (101) Freeway near Valley Circle Boulevard. It was initially reported at 50 acres, and had burned 960 acres by 5:30 p.m., pushed by relentless Santa Ana winds. The blaze moved into Ventura County and firefighters managed to stop the flames from spreading.

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No structures were damaged and no injuries were immediately reported.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued initially for an area between Vanowen and Burbank Boulevard, from County Lane Road east to Valley Circle Boulevard, but shortly before 5:30 p.m., the mandatory order was reduced to an evacuation warning, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Evacuation warnings that were issued for an area bordered by Ingomar and Saticoy Streets south to Burbank Boulevard, from Valley Circle Boulevard east to Woodlake Avenue, have been lifted.

As residents in the evacuation zones were allowed to return home, LAPD launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. Police had responded to reports of a man attempting to light a fire on Ybarra Road in Woodland Hills who had been held down by residents until law enforcement arrived. The man was interviewed by LAPD investigators and Ventura County sheriff’s deputies, but they determined there was “not enough probable cause” to arrest him as a possible arson suspect. However, the man was arrested on suspicion of a felony probation violation.

A red flag warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Friday in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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