Firefighters worked Thursday morning to increase containment of the Saddleridge Fire in the northern San Fernando Valley ahead of 20 to 35 mph winds and a chance of red flag conditions this weekend as people who live in the fire area blasted the city of Los Angeles for its handling of the blaze.
“Crews will take advantage of the conditions… to make progress and bolster containment lines,” the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement Wednesday night.
The fire has burned an estimated 8,391 acres destroyed 19 homes and damaged 88 more since it erupted about 9 p.m. Oct. 10 off the westbound Foothill (210) Freeway near Yarnell Street and Saddle Ridge Road in Sylmar.
Residents who attended a community meeting claimed the city’s reverse 911 system that was supposed to call residents in the event of an emergency didn’t work, ABC7 reported.
The city blamed cell towers that suffered damage in the fire, the station said.