The Post Fire North Of L.A. Burns 14,625 Acres, 8% Contained As Firefighters Battle Gusty Winds; Hot Temperatures Forecast – Update

Bruce Haring and Tom Tapp

June 17, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.·4 min read

UPDATED Monday 7:30 AM: The Post Fire near the Tejon Pass and Pyramid Lake north of Los Angeles has grown to 14,625 acres and is 8% contained early Monday, with strong winds and hot temperatures expected to hinder firefighting efforts.

Firefighters worked through the night to reinforce the lines of cleared vegetation, according to the most recent update from the unified command, that include the U.S. Forest Service, Angeles National Forest, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Ventura County Fire Department.

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The fire continues to threaten nearby structures and has prompted the evacuation of about 1,200 people from the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area.

Pyramid Lake #postfire #california #fireWx pic.twitter.com/TOnmFPvk5n
— Katie – California LandBird….. (@CaLandBird) June 17, 2024

Winds blew the smoke throughout the San Fernando Valley and into the Westside of L.A. Sunday, reducing air quality and creating a brown haze that hung over much of the region. Some reports had smoke stretching down to San Diego.

Fire in the sky sunset over Hollywood Mt. #postFire smoke drifting into LA. pic.twitter.com/onLu3z0xzX
— Helen Driscoll (@HelenDriscoll) June 17, 2024

The forecast for Monday was not promising. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the Fort Tejon area Sunday that indicated, “Very strong Northwesterly to North winds and relative humidity values of near 10 percent…The strongest winds are anticipated tonight and Monday, with sustained speeds of 25 to 35 mph, with frequent gusts near 55 mph.” Maximum gusts could reach 50-70 mph along the ridgetops, per NWS. Strong winds were also forecast for the Ventura County mountains.

Per the NWS, “A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly.”

Thankfully, temperatures are expected to cool by a few degrees in the upcoming week. But the NWS warned of the “potential for gusty winds to continue into Monday night and Tuesday. There is a 40 percent chance that the Red Flag Warning is extended into Monday night or Tuesday. There is also the potential for winds to shift to the northeast Monday night and Tuesday.” That means the blaze could burn toward Santa Barbara and/or the northern stretches of the San Fernando Valley.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a Smoke Advisory for Santa Clarita, Gorman, the San Fernando Valley, Burbank, Tujunga and the Angeles National Forest.

On Sunday, the blaze was spread south and entered Ventura County for the first time, scorching about 2,000 acres of wilderness in the southeastern portion of the Las Padres National Forest. There were 114 engines on scene and more than 1,000 personnel. Firefighters are hoping to reinforce the existing perimeter on the blaze’s east side tonight.

According to Cal Fire, “the wind is expected to push the fire further south towards Pyramid Lake.”

The cause of the blaze is unknown.

UPDATED early Sunday: A Southern California wildfire has doubled in size overnight. The Post Fire, located in the Tejon Pass north of Los Angeles, had grown on Sunday to more than 12,000 acres with 2% containment, according to Cal Fire.

The fire had burned an auto repair shop, damaged another building, and threatened other structures to the south and west of I-5, authorities said.

A worker in Gorman captured the moment a fire ravaged an auto shop. The #Postfire now spreading to more than 3,600 acres and according to @LACoFDPIO it’s zero contained. pic.twitter.com/W2csYFWL9B
— Christian Cázares 📝 (@Cazaresreports) June 16, 2024

The fire is located parallel to Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County, causing the freeway to briefly close on Saturday, triggering a traffic jam through the area, officials said.

More than 1,000 campers from a park near the fire have been evacuated.

The blaze started just before 2 p.m. PT on Saturday in the area. Gusty winds fanned the flames, which quickly spread.

At least two structures have been damaged by the fire, Cal Fire said. No injuries have been reported.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Sunday. More than 300 firefighters, including air tanker crews, are battling the fire from the ground and sky, authorities said.

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