Friday, July 22, 2016 was very hot. At 110 °F (43 °C) and with sustained winds of 15 miles per hour (24km/h) and gusting up to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h), conditions were very dangerous. About 2:10 pm a fire started near the intersection of Soledad Canyon Road and Sand Canyon Road. By 10 pm, less than eight hours later, the fire had burned at least 3,300 acres (13km).
By Saturday evening, the fire had grown to 20,000 acres (81km). Mandatory evacuations had been issued for parts of Sand Canyon, Placerita Canyon, and Little Tujunga Canyon areas. Hundreds of birds and animals were also evacuated from the Wildlife Way Station sanctuary in Little Tujunga Canyon ahead of the fire, including lions, tigers and other large animals. One person died in the fire within the mandatory evacuation area. Sable ranch, a popular filming location had also been destroyed by the fire.
By Monday evening the fire had reached an estimated 35,155 acres (142.27km), with 3,379 firefighters assigned, and 10,000 homes evacuated. Most were permitted to return home later that evening.
By Wednesday morning July 27, more than 38,000 acres had burned, at least 18 homes were destroyed, and a state of emergency had been declared. The fire was only 40% contained. The apocalyptic haze from the Sand fire triggered air-quality advisories as far away as Reno, Nevada. Eight animal shelters have opened to care for displaced animals and pets, including 165 goats, 111 chickens, 33 pigs and even a Brahma bull, in total 770 animals are being looked after by Los Angeles county workers.
“The Spirit of God is being withdrawn. Disasters by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession. How frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by fire and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently these calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God’s purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger.” Prophets and Kings, page 277.
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