Calif. wildfires are coming under control, but evacuations still in effect

California

-- Fire season has begun on the West Coast and, though wildfires around Los Angeles are being brought under control, mandatory evacuations are still in place so many shelters and hospitals are opening their doors to displaced pets.

More than 140,000 acres are being affected by the fire, which the Los Angeles County Fire Department is describing as “extremely active with rapid rates of spread.” The fire has mostly affected forested areas near Los Angeles, but 62 homes, three businesses and 27 other structures already have been destroyed.

With only about 20 percent of the fire contained as of this morning, mandatory evacuations are still in place for the Verdugo Crestline North area in Los Angeles and Glendale, north of Markridge, the Altadena Area, the Angeles Forest, the Gold Creek and Chantry Flats sections of the national forest, Acton and parts of the city of Los Angeles.

Voluntary evacuations are in effect for Juniper Hills, Little Rock and parts of Glendale, while evacuations in La Crescenta, La Canada Flintridge and Altadena have been lifted.

Human evacuation centers around the wildfires are being hosted at area high schools, while Pierce College has opened its doors to evacuated horses only and the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds is taking in other large-animal evacuees. Small animals forced to evacuate can be kept at the Augora or Lancaster animal shelters or the Palmdale or Pasadena humane societies. Additionally, VCA Animal Hospitals accounced that all of its hospitals near the Station Wild Fire were offering free boarding to companion animals whose families have been evacuated by the fires. See a complete list of participating VCA hospitals here.