Sayre Fire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sayre Fire |
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The remains of the Oakridge mobile home park in Sylmar. 480 of the park's 600 mobile homes were burned in the fire. The undamaged houses in the background became uninhabitable due to lack of utility service.
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| Location | Sylmar, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Statistics | |
| Cost | Unknown |
| Date(s) | November 14, 2008–November 20, 2008 10:29 p.m. PDT |
| Burned area | 11,200 acres (45 km2) |
| Deaths | Unknown |
| Non-fatal injuries | 5 firefighters, 1 civilian |
| Perpetrator(s) | Unknown |
The Sayre Fire, also known as the Sylmar Fire, was a large wildfire that happened in November 2008. It caused the loss of nearly 500 homes in Los Angeles, California, United States. This was the worst loss of homes due to fire in the city's history at that time.
The fire was first reported late at night on November 14, 2008, in the Sylmar area of Los Angeles. By November 20, 2008, the fire was completely under control. It had burned over 11,000 acres (about 45 square kilometers) and destroyed more than 600 buildings. These included 480 mobile homes, nine single-family homes, and many other structures. The number of homes lost in the Sayre Fire was even higher than the 484 homes lost in the Bel Air Fire in 1961. Luckily, no one died, and only five firefighters and one civilian had minor injuries.
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How the Sayre Fire Started and Spread
The Sayre Fire began just one day after another big fire, the Tea Fire, destroyed over 200 homes in Montecito and Santa Barbara. The Sayre Fire was reported on Sayre Street in Sylmar, close to the Foothill Freeway.
The fire spread very quickly because of strong Santa Ana winds. These winds were almost as strong as a hurricane, blowing between 50 and 80 miles per hour. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger described the conditions as a "perfect storm." This meant there were strong winds, very dry air, high temperatures, and a lot of dry plants that could easily catch fire.
Major Impacts of the Fire
Worst Home Loss in Los Angeles History
Fire officials reported that the Sayre Fire destroyed more than 600 buildings. This included 480 mobile homes, nine regular houses, and many other structures. The Los Angeles Times newspaper called it the "worst loss of homes due to fire in the city of Los Angeles." It surpassed the 484 homes lost in the 1961 Bel Air fire.
A local official, Zev Yaroslavsky, said that the fire was as bad as he could remember since the Bel-Air Fire. He noted that losing a home, whether it's a mobile home or a large estate, is a terrible experience for anyone.
Damage at Oakridge Mobile Home Park
In the early morning hours of November 15, 2008, the fire severely damaged the Oakridge Mobile Home Park. Out of 600 mobile homes in the park, 480 were destroyed. A fire captain described the scene as an "absolute firestorm" with flames reaching 50 feet high. It was so hot that fire hoses were melting into the ground.
Firefighters helped many people escape their homes. Four civilians even rescued a disabled woman who was trapped as fire broke her windows. Although there was worry that some older residents might have died, special dogs searched the ruins and found no one.
The Daily News described Oakridge as a beautiful, gated community with nice lawns, a swimming pool, and tennis courts. One resident said it was "the Beverly Hills of mobile homes."
After the fire, a firefighter found a burned U.S. flag. It was given to the park manager as a symbol of hope and bravery. This flag was later framed and is still displayed in the new clubhouse at Oakridge. Governor Schwarzenegger noted that the homes in Oakridge caught fire "like matches." He asked for a review of fire safety rules for mobile homes and parks.
Fire Threatens Olive View Medical Center
Around 1:00 a.m. on November 15, 2008, the Sayre Fire's flames came very close to Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar. The Los Angeles Times reported that tall walls of flames surrounded the hospital. Burning pieces of fire blew around, setting trees and bushes on fire. Soon, the hospital was surrounded by flames on all sides.
About 200 patients stayed inside the hospital while firefighters battled the flames outside. The hospital lost power, and its backup generators did not work. The smell of smoke filled the dark hallways. Staff used flashlights to care for patients, and critical patients were kept alive with hand-powered breathing machines. Some babies and very sick patients were moved to other hospitals by ambulance. In the end, over 40 buildings on the hospital campus were damaged, and the child care center was completely destroyed.
Fireworks During the Fire
On November 15, 2008, a shopping center called Americana at Brand decided to have a fireworks display. This happened even though the Sayre Fire was burning just a few miles away. The fireworks made some people run outside in alarm. One resident said it was not the right time for fireworks, especially with hotels full of people who had to leave their homes because of the fire. A mall spokesperson said they could not reschedule the fireworks.
Taking Things from Homes
On November 15, 2008, the Los Angeles Police Department arrested some people for taking items from homes that had been left empty because of the fire. A homeowner in Porter Ranch found two women taking things from his house. The police believed these women might have taken items from other homes too.
Damage to Parks and Natural Areas
Besides homes, the Sayre Fire also caused a lot of damage to nine parks and natural areas. These included Stetson Ranch Park, El Cariso Community Regional Park, and Wilson Canyon Park in Sylmar. Veterans Memorial Community Regional Park in Sylmar was badly damaged, losing a building and a cactus garden.
Other Impacts
The heavy smoke from the fire caused the first-ever Pasadena Marathon to be canceled on November 15, 2008.
A large rally protesting a law against gay marriage was expected to have 40,000 people in Downtown Los Angeles. However, only 8,000 showed up. Some people thought this was because of the fire, which caused evacuations and traffic problems.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power had a major power station in Sylmar. Because of the fire, they had to temporarily turn off electricity in some areas for about 25 minutes.
Evacuations and Shelters
In the early morning of November 15, 2008, officials told people living north of the 210 Freeway in Sylmar to leave their homes. The area for evacuation grew to include over 10,000 people. These people lived in the northern part of the San Fernando Valley, from Sylmar to Granada Hills.
Places were set up for people to stay, including Sylmar High School, San Fernando High School, Chatsworth High School, and Kennedy High School. By the next afternoon, most of these shelters had closed. Special centers were also set up for large animals at Pierce College and the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center.
Freeway Closures
The fire caused several major freeways in the San Fernando Valley to close temporarily. These included the Golden State Freeway (Interstate 5), the Foothill Freeway (Interstate 210), and the San Diego Freeway (Interstate 405). By the late afternoon of November 15, 2008, the California Highway Patrol announced that the freeways were open again.
Images for kids
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The remains of the Oakridge mobile home park in Sylmar. 480 of the park's 600 mobile homes were burned in the fire. The undamaged houses in the background became uninhabitable due to lack of utility service.
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The Sayre fire as seen from Santa Clarita on November 15, 2008
See also
In Spanish: Incendio de Sayre para niños
