Canyon Fire: Brush fire jumps to more than 5,000 acres, but containment grows to 28%

The 5,370-acre Canyon Fire burning near Lake Piru in Ventura County and Los Angeles County — fueled by bone-dry brush and extreme heat — is now 28% contained, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

With dry, rugged terrain, hot temperatures, and low humidity, firefighters say they are still in for a tough battle.

The department said air attack and ground crews persisted through Friday’s intense heat to capitalize on Thursday’s progress and minimize the fire’s growth.

Fire growth was limited to just over 500 acres despite the challenging conditions, the department said. The progress allowed the command staff to downgrade many evacuation levels in several zones.

Three firefighters suffered minor injuries and were transported to a local hospital. Officials said they are expected to fully recover.

“This afternoon, we’re starting to see the temperatures come back up, we’re seeing winds start to pick up. There’s still a risk here. Fire is still burning, and we’re still going to be incredibly vigilant until we get this fire contained,” said Andrew Dowd with Ventura County Fire.

Despite the rapid spread on Thursday, no homes have been lost — a major victory for firefighters working overnight.

“The fire department. They were flying all night long. That’s why I felt safe. Our fire department out here in Santa Clarita is incredible. They do an incredible job. They’ve saved us a lot of times, and it’s been amazing, and I really appreciate them a lot,” said Hasley Canyon resident Mike Kavathas.

Evacuation warnings remain in effect for several communities in the area. Castaic High School was closed Friday as the fire burns near its northern perimeter.