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As thousands of evacuated residents of the fire-ravaged Santa Clarita area were allowed back to their homes Tuesday, officials decried the chaos caused by some people who ignored orders to leave as deadly flames approached.

Some structures may have burned needlessly because firefighters were forced to deal with residents still in their homes instead of racing to battle the blaze.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby lamented the unwillingness of some residents to follow evacuation orders during the height of the battle against the flames, saying fire crews encountered residents while heading into the fire zone.

“They were surprised to see citizens there,” Osby said. “The citizens were there trying to evacuate, trying to get animals out.

“At the same time they (firefighters) are trying to go in and protect homes, they felt that they lost additional structures because they had to stop what they were doing to help citizens evacuate.”

According to the California Highway Patrol, some law enforcement personnel standing guard at closed streets were nearly run over by people driving carelessly as they tried to get back to their homes.

Fire and law enforcement officials repeatedly urged residents to evacuate when ordered, or even earlier.

“If you see smoke and fire coming in your direction, don’t wait for a police officer or a deputy or a firefighter to say go,” LACFD Deputy Chief John Tripp said.

Officials also warned people not to fly drones in the fire zone, noting that a couple of incursions of drones into the fire zone occurred on Sunday — forcing a halt to aerial firefighting efforts until the air space was cleared.

Officials estimated about 20,000 residents of 10,000 dwellings were ordered out of the area and away from the massive blaze that burned 35,000 acres, destroyed at least 18 homes and possibly killed one man.

While most evacuated residents were being allowed to return home, some fire areas were still off-limits as of Tuesday morning.

–Staff and wire reports

Chaos in massive Santa Clarita blaze as residents won’t flee was last modified: by

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