High winds and hot embers create what fire officials call, “the perfect storm” in the Sayre Fire, so they urge families to evacuate ahead of the flames moving fast across the north San Fernando Valley. As part of the award-winning “Ashes of Oakridge” coverage, Patrica Nazario speaks with one Sylmar man, who, instead of packing up his car, decides to stay put and fight.
About 500 of the homes in the Oakridge mobile home park, which had 600 residences, lie in ruins after burning in the Sayre Fire on November 15, 2008 in Sylmar, California. (Photo by Patricia Nazario)
The Sayre fire destroyed more than 600 structures in Los Angeles, which is the worst figure related to fire-related-property loss in the city’s history. As a whole, the 2008 California wildfire season was one of the most devastating in modern history, with the total number of acres burned exceeded that of previous year. Southern California’s extended drought, high temperatures and strong Santa Ana winds are contributing factors to the extreme fire conditions.
Additional Resources:
Map of burn areas
New York Times
