WEST HILLS (CNS) - A brush fire that erupted in the West Hills area and consumed 1,052 acres in Los Angeles and Ventura counties is now 100% contained Sunday, authorities announced Sunday.
Firefighters worked overnight to put out remaining hot spots of the Kenneth Fire and to prevent flare ups before gusty winds return this week.
The Kenneth Fire was reported at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in an area north of the Ventura (101) Freeway near Valley Circle Boulevard. Initially reported at 20 acres, it quickly expanded to 50 acres, and within 90 minutes it exploded to 791 acres, pushed by continuing Santa Ana winds. It eventually grew to 1,052 acres.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the people between Vanowen Street and Burbank Boulevard, from County Lane Road east to Valley Circle Boulevard, but shortly before 5:30 p.m., that mandatory order was reduced to an evacuation warning as the fire burned its way primarily into Ventura County.
All evacuation orders and warnings were lifted as of 8 p.m. Thursday and deputies were checking the ID's of people moving through the area to be sure they were residents.
No structures were reported damaged by the Kenneth Fire.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office reports that 16 have died as a result from the fires and 16 remain missing. No juveniles have been reported among the missing, according to the LASD Sheriff Robert Luna.
Copyright 2025, City News Service, Inc.