Adding to an already brutal firestorm, another brush fire erupted in the West Hills area, consuming nearly 1,000 acres of terrain and forcing mandatory evacuations that were later lifted as the fire burned into Ventura County Friday.
Meanwhile, a person was detained for questioning Thursday in the nearby Woodland Hills area shortly after the fire started, although it was unclear if the person had any connection to the Kenneth Fire.
As of 11 p.m. Thursday, the fire was about 1,000 acres and 35% contained, according to Cal Fire.
The Kenneth Fire was reported around 3:30 p.m. 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.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the people between Vanowen 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.
Police said they detained a man around 4:30 p.m. in the 21700 block of Ybarra Road after receiving reports of a possible arson suspect. KTLA5 reported that residents in the area spotted the man and held him until police arrived.