Fires continued to destroy Southern California Friday as thousands of residents evacuation after multiple blazes erupted across the region, including the Kincade, Sepulveda Basin, Castaic, and Santa Clarita. The fire scorched 4,300 acres, and several homes were destroyed by Friday afternoon.

Santa Clarita neighbors team up to battle approaching blaze

Video courtesy of ABC7

As the Tick Fire in Santa Clarita bore down, a group of neighbors teamed up to take the firefight into their own hands as one of several fires straining first responders.

Poppy Meadow neighbors tried to extinguish the approaching flames with garden hoses and other tools as firefighting aircrafts protected the areas most at risk. Residents sprayed water and shoveled dirt to stop the fire in their tracks.

"We did what we had to do. We did what we were told to do and went after it," Poppy Meadows resident Lee Chavez told ABC News in a news report.

One resident explained that they asked the fire sheriffs if they were going to come in, and firefighters said that no fire department would be able to make it because all firefighters were deployed to different locations. "Resources are so low that they couldn't make it here," the homeowner said.

Other residential areas were spared while fires ravished some homes in the canyon neighborhoods. "We just took it upon ourselves - luckily, it was a good response," neighbor Michael Fligiel said.

One resident of the area was reported saying he's never seen this bad in all the 8 years he's lived there. According to him, the last fire which he said was scary won't compare to this one. 

Possible Tick Fire Origin Point Under Investigation

Video courtesy of ABC7

According to an ABC7 news report, Los Angeles County Fire are investigating at a home in a remote part of Agua Dulce as a possible origin point for the massive Tick Fire in Canyon.

Two parts of the property have crime scene tape around them. Inspectors discovered a smoker in one area and a fire extinguisher lying on the ground in another section.

John Marles lived next door to the Agua Dulce property and was interviewed by arson investigators. He was the first to call 911, so investigators and firefighters asked him about where he first saw the smoke.

Marles narrated that he was home Thursday afternoon when he heard a few loud booms, which he believes were propane tanks. He went outside, and that's when he saw a 50-foot-wide column of smoke coming from his neighbor's property.

"They said there's so much stuff up there, cars machinery, welding tanks. I've heard the firemen talking about cooking lunch on a barbecue, which in this windy weather is kind of dangerous. But they're not sure."

Marles was told his neighbor had been interviewed by investigators, who aren't sure how the fire started. He added he kept the water tanks full in his residence. The firefighters were able to use them on Thursday.