Rye Fire 65 Percent Contained in Fifth Day of Blaze

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 SANTA CLARITA (CNS) - The Rye Fire burning in Santa Clarita is 65 percent contained today as firefighters enter their fifth day in the battle of a blaze that has consumed 6,049 acres thus far, a county fire department captain said.

The fire also damaged at last one outbuilding, said Capt. Scott Miller of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

It started at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday near the 2500 block of Rye Canyon Loop, and -- driven by gusty Santa Ana winds -- has threatened 5,460 structures and caused burn injuries to a firefighter, authorities said. The firefighter, possibly an inmate, was airlifted to a burn center for treatment.

All evacuations and road closures issued as a result of the fire have been lifted, and the College of the Canyons evacuation site has been deactivated, officials said.

The fire's size originally was estimated at about 7,000 acres, but has been downsized to 6,049 acres after precision mapping was conducted, Cal Fire reported.

Residents of the Valencia Travel Village RV park at 27946 Henry Mayo Drive in Castaic began returning to their homes after evacuations were lifted Wednesday.

The fire prompted the evacuation of about 5,000 people from about 1,300 homes and the closure of sections of the Golden State (5) Freeway and state Route 126.

The Golden State Freeway was temporarily closed in both directions near state Route 126, but the freeway re-opened by mid-afternoon Tuesday.

Authorities reminded residents that the Disaster Distress Helpline, a 24- hour national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for those affected by the fires, is accessible at (800) 985-5990.


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