7/31/10 UPDATE FROM THE RED CROSS LOS ANGELES CHAPTER SITE:
Red Cross Closes Marie Kerr Shelter
Mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for areas affected by the Crown fire in Palmdale and Leona Valley. In response, the American Red Cross has closed the last of it’s shelters opened due to the fires — the Marie Kerr Park shelter.
The Crown fire scorched almost 14,00 acres in Northern Los Angeles and was estimated at being 82% contained Saturday afternoon.
During the fire, the American Red Cross set up three shelters:
* Acton Community Center
* Agua Dulce Elementary School
* Marie Kerr Park
Because the fire is still burning, the Red Cross remains on watch for any new response requests.
At the height of the crisis, which began late Thursday afternoon, almost 200 people sought shelter at an American Red Cross shelter in Palmdale’s Marie Kerr Park.
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(NOTE: The RC info below quotes "500 acres burned" - that was hours ago - it is over 4500 acres at this point at 10:57 p.m.)
From the Red Cross L.A. Chapter Site:
Wildfire in Acton, Palmdale forces thousands to evacuate; Red Cross opens shelters
(Updated July 29, 10:00 pm) There are two fires burning in the Acton and Agua Dulce area of Los Angeles County. The Briggs Incident and Crown Incident broke out in the Acton area this afternoon.
The Crown fire has burned approximately 500 acres, with 0% containment, and is burning towards portions of Leona Valley.
FROM THE L.A. Red Cross Chapter site 7/29/10 - 10 p.m.:
The Briggs fire has burned approximately 450 acres, with 0% containment. Strike teams, air tankers, and 400 personnel have responded to the fires
The fire forced the evacuation of Leona Valley, an unincorporated town of 2,200 people west of Palmdale.
Anne Ambrose, City of Palmdale says that they are evacuating 4,000 people in Palmdale — not including Leona Valley and Quartz Hill.
Animal Care and Control has deployed animal emergency response teams to the scene to assist with animal evacuations, if needed.
In Response the Red Cross Los Angeles Region has opened up three shelters for those needing shelter tonight at the following locations:
Acton Community Center, 3748 Nichels Street, Acton, CA 93510
Agua Dulce Elementary School, 11311 W. Frascati, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 (near Agua Dulce)
Marie Kerr Recreation Center, 2730 West Rancho Vista Blvd, Palmdale, CA 93551
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This shelter site was opened on 1/20/10 to house evacuee's in the Acton area where the post burn regions of the Station Fire due to Mudslides, Floods and Debris Flows.