Stay or flee: As fire threatens, Porter Ranch neighbors make a choice

In the smoky Santa Susana foothills, despite a mandatory evacuation edict, the neighbors of the gated community in the 19700 block of Kilfinan Street in Porter Ranch made a pact, promising each other: “I won’t leave until you leave.”

Tony Soliven, a 40-year-old computer technician, was busying himself being defensive, watering shrubs and warily eyeing the smoke-filled skies while his wife gathered their most precious belongings and stowed them in the car.

They held out until 12:30 p.m., when fire swept over the ridge behind their home, fueled by intense south and southwesterly winds that snapped tree limbs and sent trash cans tumbling down the road among the two-story, decade-old homes.

The erratic winds drove the blaze up against a retaining wall that separated $800,000 homes from burning brush on the mountainside to the north.

“Not yet,” Soliven said, continuing to douse the backyard despite the approaching smoke clouds.

“Once we get out of here, we won’t be allowed back in for quite a while,” he added.

Flames engulfed manzanita and oak trees less than 300 yards away. Embers flew, and the skies darkened. Sirens blared in several directions.

“Not yet,” Soliven said, evaluating the threat every few seconds.

A neighbor from across the street dashed over, holding a handkerchief over her face. Her car was parked facing the street, ready to leave.

“Are you staying?” she asked Soliven, who seemed to have been designated the ultimate judge. He looked up and said, “Yeah, we’re not leaving yet.”

As she headed back home, the neighbor said, “If you leave, I’m leaving, so let me know.”

A few doors down, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Raffi Maronian, 36, a resident, ran out to take a look around. His badge hanging around his neck on a lanyard, he decided to alert neighbors who might not be aware of the worsening conditions.

Maronian ran across the street and banged on the front door of a house. The door opened.

“The fire is right behind us. Are you ready?” he asked.

The neighbor, curious to see for herself, walked out to the corner and looked north to see flames 10 to 15 feet high engulfing a patch of shrubs just a few yards behind her home.

“Oh my God, it’s here,” she shouted and ran back into her house. Maronian went door to door to see if anyone else was still around.

“I wonder why the fire department isn’t here yet,” the deputy said aloud to no one in particular. Moments later, police cruisers and fire department authorities began driving down the street ordering evacuation.

Among the last to leave was Soliven.

“It’s time. I’m leaving,” he said.

With black ash swirling down the street and visibility down to a few yards, garage doors opened almost in unison and vehicles began streaming out of the gated entryway.

 Louis.sahagun@latimes.com