The Kenneth fire expanded rapidly on Thursday night, the latest blaze to threaten Los Angeles, which has been ravaged by a series of destructive wildfires this week.
A mandatory evacuation order was in effect for areas around the fire.
The Kenneth fire shows “we are absolutely not out of this extreme weather event,” said Kristin M. Crowley, the Los Angeles fire chief, at a news conference Thursday evening. Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles said she expected the newest fire to “rapidly spread.”
On the west side of Calabasas near the fire, the winds picked up and the smell of smoke was intense. The Parkmor neighborhood was pitch dark with the electricity, but just after sunset there was a glow above the clouds in the distance and the smoke looming overhead was pink.
“This is the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, you’re being advised to evacuate this area,” police announce through blasting speakers as they circle the streets again and again. “It is a mandatory evacuation.”
It’s an order that many residents, who have experienced fires before, are not heeding. In 2018, the area was hit by the Woolsey Fire. Many homes have since been rebuilt, but empty lots remain.
In one of those empty lots, Scott Zone was standing alongside neighbors. He was in disbelief that his neighborhood was under evacuation yet again. He lost his home in 2018 and rebuilt. “Never thought I’d see it again,” Mr. Zone said.
Marty Freel said he evacuated his family but was staying back to prepare his house. “I’ve been watering the roof the whole time and just waiting,” Mr. Freel said.
Tyler Turquand also endured the inferno about six years ago. He stayed back to save his home. “We have a tight community from that experience and we were able to get through this together,” Mr. Turquand said. “We’re doing OK.”
Mr. Turquand pointed to a ridge, covered in parched grass across that way.
“It was on this ridge here,” he said. “Came up, came down and burned down all of these homes, and it created a fire tornado in the canyon and came over the top. And then caught the house in the corner here and all the way down.”
“I know things can change in a heartbeat,” Mr. Turquand added. “Your life is precious. And just be careful because you never know.”
