The Kenneth Fire, which broke out in the western San Fernando Valley earlier this week, is now 80% contained, officials said.
The fire was first reported around 2:30 p.m. Thursday in an area of dry brush in the Upper Las Vergenes Canyon Open Space. The entrance to the open space is located at the west end of Victory Boulevard, north of Highway 101 and the upscale Hidden Hills neighborhood. .
Within four hours, the fire had grown to 960 acres. Like other fires in the area, this fire was caused by incredibly strong Santa Ana winds.
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By 9 p.m. Thursday, crews had made significant progress, achieving 35% containment and limiting the blaze to approximately 1,000 acres.
Firefighters battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday, January 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Firefighters battle the Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles’ West Hills neighborhood. Thursday, January 9th. , 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Firefighters walk as they battle the Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles’ West Hills neighborhood on Thursday, Jan. 9. 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Firefighters battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Water is sprayed from a helicopter on the Kenneth Fire in Los Angeles. Thursday, January 9, 2025, in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Firefighters battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Firefighters battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Sky 5 view of the Kenneth Fire in the Hidden Hills and Calabasas area of California, January 9, 2025. (KTLA)
In the latest update issued just before 7:45 a.m. Saturday, the Ventura County Fire Department said the Kenneth Fire remained at 1,052 acres and was 80% contained.
Nearly 250 personnel will remain on scene to patrol the fire and conduct mop-up operations for remaining hot spots, VCFD said.
CalFire reiterated in a status update that suppression efforts for Southern California’s currently most contained wildfire are well underway in the region. As of press time, the 800-acre Hearst Fire in Sylmar is 76% contained.
“Firefighters worked throughout.” [Friday] “We are mopping up hot spots, improving containment lines, and strengthening the overall containment of this fire,” CalFire said. “Firefighters will continue to monitor and patrol to ensure the fire remains within established boundaries.”
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Around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, members of the public apprehended a man believed to have set the fire in the area, and he was taken into police custody. However, Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi later said that after his department’s preliminary investigation, “there was no probable cause to arrest this individual on suspicion of arson or arson.”
The Kenneth Fire occurred just days after the devastating and deadly Palisades and Eaton fires. Both of these fires are considered among the costliest wildfires in state history.
Other fires, including the Sunset Fire, Hearst Fire, and Lydia Fire, broke out earlier this week while the Los Angeles area was experiencing hurricane-force winds, low humidity, and extremely dry terrain.
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