Saddleridge fire: burning more than 7,500 acres, shutting down freeways and driving thousands of residents from their homes.

Firefighters were hoping to take advantage of favorable weather conditions on Saturday to get the upper hand on the Saddleridge fire, a sprawling blaze that has torched the hills of the northwest San Fernando Valley, burning more than 7,500 acres, shutting down freeways and driving thousands of residents from their homes. Slightly cooler temperatures and lighter winds turning onshore later were expected to aid firefighters in their third day battling the fire, which extends from Porter Ranch to Sylmar, officials said. As of Saturday morning, the fire was 19% contained. The cause of the fire has not been determined, officials said. But investigators are checking on a report that flames were seen coming from a power line as the fire started on Thursday night. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for roughly 23,000 homes north of the 118 Freeway from Tampa Avenue west to the Ventura County line. But some residents began returning to their homes Friday night. One firefighter suffered a minor injury to his eye while battling the blaze, and a man in his late 50s died after suffering a heart attack while talking with firefighters early Friday, officials said. Friday afternoon, the wind was pushing the fire west into residential neighborhoods in Porter Ranch and farther west to less-populated areas approaching Rocky Peak Park near the Ventura County line, Silverman said. He said the wildfire is similar to the 2008 Sayre fire, which leveled the Oakridge Estates mobile home park and was one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history...MORE